Add or subtract as indicated. 345.1 - 56.31

Verified step by step guidance

1. Identify the operation to be performed: subtraction.
2. Align the numbers by their decimal points: 345.1 and 56.31.
3. Since 345.1 has fewer decimal places, add a zero to make it 345.10 for easier subtraction.
4. Subtract each column starting from the rightmost digit (hundredths place) to the left.
5. Ensure to borrow from the next left column if a digit in the minuend is smaller than the corresponding digit in the subtrahend.

Key Concepts

Decimal Addition and Subtraction

Decimal addition and subtraction involve aligning numbers by their decimal points to ensure accurate calculations. When subtracting, it is crucial to maintain the correct place value for each digit, which helps avoid errors in the final result. For example, in the operation 345.1 - 56.31, one must align the numbers as 345.10 and 056.31 before performing the subtraction.

Place Value

Place value is the value of a digit based on its position within a number. In decimal numbers, each position represents a power of ten, with digits to the left of the decimal point representing whole numbers and those to the right representing fractions. Understanding place value is essential for performing operations accurately, especially when dealing with decimals.

Rounding and Precision

Rounding and precision refer to how numbers are expressed and the level of detail in calculations. When performing operations with decimals, it is important to consider how many decimal places to keep in the final answer. This ensures that the result is both accurate and appropriately precise for the context, which is particularly relevant in real-world applications.