Don't Borrow Tens Ever Again in a Subtraction Problem!

When the traditional method of subtraction is taught in school, it can often be quite confusing, especially when the number you are subtracting from has lots of zeros. It is a pain to go borrow the tens from other numbers, especially when they are ones or zeros. But, there is an easier way to approach this that isn't taught in class.

In geometry, the word "complimentary" is used to describe the relationship between two angles that sum to 90°. For instance, 36 and 54 are complimentary angles. Similarly, the compliment of 36 would be 54 when talking about geometry.

A geometric application of complimentary angles (and a funny picture)

With arithmetic on the other hand, a number's compliment is its difference from the power of ten above it. So, the compliment of 36 would be 64 (100 - 36 = 64), or the compliment of 473 would be 527 (1000 - 473 = 527). This is more practical for solving arithmetic problems than the distance from 90.

One-hundred or one-thousand are very difficult numbers to subtract from. These are ones where you need to keep turning zeros into nines until you reach that first digit, and then figure out the problem from there. This can be quite the pain. But, there is a shortcut for these examples.

All you have to do is subtract the last digit of the number from ten. This is the last digit of the compliment. Then, subtract all of the rest of the digits from nine, and place them in their corresponding place value. For instance, let's find the compliment of 36.

10 - 6 = 4
9 - 3 = 6

100 - 36 = 64

Pretty easy, right? Let's try it with 473.

10 - 3 = 7
9 - 7 = 2
9 - 4 = 5

1000 - 473 = 527

This can easily be extended to numbers in the thousands, millions, billions, and more as long as you can keep track of the digits. For example, 5647823 would have a compliment of:

10 - 3 = 7
9 - 2 = 7
9 - 8 = 1
9 - 7 = 2
9 - 4 = 5
9 - 6 = 3
9 - 5 = 4

10000000 - 5647823 = 4352177

Couldn't be easier! This method is basically just remembering the fact that no matter what the situation, you will have borrowed a ten from each zero, making them all nines except for the very last one which will remain a ten. Try a few subtraction problems yourself and you will see why it works.

This can be applied to geometry in a way as well. To subtract quickly from ninety, you still subtract the last digit from ten, and the first one from eight (one less than the nine). So, the compliment of 29° is:

10 - 9 = 1
8 - 2 = 6

90° - 29° = 61°

For supplements of angles (the angle's difference from 180), you can do a similar technique as well. Subtract the last digit from ten and the first from seventeen. For instance, the supplement of 48° is:

10 - 8 = 2
17 - 4 = 13

180° - 48° = 132°

In fact, any number ending in zero(s) can be subtracted from just by altering this method. I have found this extremely helpful when performing mental math (three-digit and four-digit squaring requires you to quickly identify how far you are from the nearest hundred/thousand, which often needs compliments). It is also very practical. When you give the cashier a hundred dollar bill, they are usually impressed when you tell them the change before they have time to punch the bill into the register. I'd recommend practicing this technique because it is useful and also quite a bit of fun.