Verified answer

Sometimes there are nice shortcuts with certain types of numbers. Note that 598 is near 600, and 6000 - 600 is easily seen to be 5400.

Note that 598 is 2 less than 600. Since we actually want to subtract 598 instead of 600, just add 2 back.

5400 + 2 = 5402.

The general idea of this type of math shortcut is to replace the problem by an easier problem that is like the original problem, solve the easier problem, and then make the appropriate adjustment to solve the original problem.

Hi:

6000 - 598 = x

set the problem up like so

Please ingore the @ symbol it for spacing . Just put a space for it .okay :

6000

-598

--------

now subtract 0 from 8

problem is 0 is not big enough to do 8 so we must borrow a 1 someplace and made 0 a ten

so we borrow for the 6 in the thousand place and put a 5 there like and turn the 0 above the 8 and put 9 in the other two place like so

@+1

5990

- 598

--------

now 10 - 8 = 2 so we get : { ingore te + here it for spacing to show you 10 for 0-8 due the borrowing 1 from the 6 in the above

@+1

5990

-598

------

@@2

now subtract 9 from 9 to get 0 and put it down like so

@+1

5990

-598

-------

@02

now subtract 5 from 9 to get 4 and put it down like so

@+1

5990

-598

-------

402

finally we bring down the 5 like so

@+1

5990

-598

-------

5402

to ge 5402

proof that 6000- 598 = 5402

5402 + 598 = x

6000= x

so 5402 is the correct answer

to explain this better check the following websites

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Subtraction

http://www.mathsisfun.com/numbers/subtraction-regr...

http://mathforum.org/library/drmath/view/59035.htm... - Best at explaining what I did in the above

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=13jMEKh_4mQ

In the examples you gave, you subtract from zero; not the other way round.

http://www.beaconlearningcenter.com/WebLessons/Zer...

Try that :)