Problem 153 - Prealgebra

Question

In the following exercises, model the subtraction. $$17-8$$

Step-by-Step Solution

Answer

9

Step 1 - Understand the Problem

The exercise requires the subtraction of two numbers: 17 and 8. You need to find the difference between them.

Step 2 - Subtract the Numbers

Perform the subtraction operation: \[ 17 - 8 = 9 \]

Step 3 - Verify the Result

Double-check the subtraction to ensure accuracy: Adding 8 back to 9 should give you back 17: \[ 9 + 8 = 17 \]

Key Concepts

Subtraction in Prealgebra

Subtraction is the process of removing one quantity from another. It's one of the basic operations in arithmetic. In this exercise, we subtract 8 from 17. This operation helps you find out how many are left after taking some away. To better understand, think of having 17 apples and you give 8 of them to a friend. How many apples remain with you? To solve it, you use subtraction.

Basic Arithmetic

Basic arithmetic involves simple mathematical operations such as addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division. In this problem, we focus on subtraction. Here’s a quick refresher:

• Start with the larger number (minuend), in this case, 17.
• Remove the smaller number (subtrahend), which is 8.
• The result is called the difference, which is 9.

Understanding basic arithmetic is crucial because it forms the foundation for more advanced math concepts. Feel free to use counting objects or tools like fingers to visualize and understand these operations better.

Verification of Results

After solving a subtraction problem, it’s important to verify your answer. This can be done by reversing the operation. In our exercise, after determining that 17 - 8 = 9, you should add the difference (9) back to the subtrahend (8) to see if you get the minuend (17). Mathematically, it looks like this:

• Perform the addition: 9 + 8.
• Check if the result equals 17.
• If it does, your subtraction is correct!

Verification helps to ensure that there were no mistakes in your calculations, which is very important in math. Always take a moment to double-check your work!