Subtraction
Also when starting to subtract numbers in the Land of Twelve, it is good to first see what happens if you subtract a small number (smaller than twelve), for instance \(4\mathrm{X}_{12} - 6_{12} \). Because the last digit in the first number, \(\mathrm{X}_{12}\), is bigger than \(6_{12}\), this calculation is pretty easy:
\[
4 \mathrm{X}_{12} - 6_{12} = 44_{12}.
\]
The calculation of \(55_{12} - \mathrm{Y}_{12}\) is a bit harder, but again you can first subtract \(5_{12}\) to get \(50_{12}\), and then subtract whatever is left from \(\mathrm{Y}_{12}\), namely \(6_{12}\):
\[
55_{12} - \mathrm{Y}_{12} = 55_{12} - 5_{12} - 6_{12} = 50_{12} - 6_{12} = 46_{12}.
\]
To subtract bigger numbers, you can use column subtraction. Remember how in the Land of Ten you would borrow (or trade) numbers if you were subtracting a larger digit from a smaller? That still works the same. Let's look at this example:
\[
\begin{array}{cccc}
& & & \\
7 & \mathrm{X} & 3 &\\
2 & 5 & \mathrm{Y} & - \\
\hline
& & ?
\end{array}
\]
Because the \(\mathrm{Y}\) is bigger than the \(3\), we need to borrow a 'twelve' from the \(\mathrm{X}\). The \( \mathrm{X}\) stands on the place for the multiples of twelve, so it stand for \(\mathrm{X}0\). Subtracting \(10\), we get \(90\). So the \(\mathrm{X}\) becomes a \(9\) and if we add the borrowed \(12\) to the \(3\) we get \(13\). The result is
\[
\begin{array}{cccc}
7 & 9 & 13 &\\
2 & 5 & \mathrm{Y} & - \\
\hline
& ? & 4
\end{array}
\]
We can now subtract the \(5\) from the \(9\)
\[
\begin{array}{cccc}
7 & 9 & 13 &\\
2 & 5 & \mathrm{Y} & - \\
\hline
& 4 & 4
\end{array}
\]
And finally, we subtract \(2\) from \(7\) and find the answer
\[
\begin{array}{cccc}
7 & 9 & 13 &\\
2 & 5 & \mathrm{Y} & - \\
\hline
5 & 4 & 4
\end{array}
\]
Exercises
Perform the following subtractions:
- \(302 - 239\)
- \(1029-62\mathrm{X}\)
- \(2045-10\mathrm{Y}0\)
- \(409-502\)
- \(\mathrm{YXY}-253\)