➖ Viral Maths — Chapter 03: Subtraction

by Navneet Tiwari (Adda247)  ·  8 Named Approaches for Finding the Gap Fast · Bank / SSC / Railway / BPSC / BSSC

📌 What This Chapter Covers
  • Subtraction is all about finding the GAP between two numbers.
  • Book ki example: sabji-wala (vegetable vendor) shop mein subtraction ka sabse zyada real-life use hota hai — daily practice karo aur verbally calculate karo.
  • 8 named approaches hain — number ki shape/closeness dekh ke sahi approach choose karo.
⚡ QUICK RECALL
Selection guide: 2-digit−1-digit → Todu-Modu; mirror numbers → Sita-Gita; number near 100/200/300 → Tidding-Tidding; both numbers near same base → Nadiya Paar; mixed +/− chain → Anti-Bodmas; subtract FROM 100/1000 → Sabji Wala; subtract from 50 (20s) → Bhai Bhai; last-2-digits close → Last-2-Digit Fix method.
🗂️ Chapter Index
TabApproachBest For
2Todu-Modu2-3 digit number − 1-digit number
3Sita-Gita (Judwa)Number − its digit-reversal (mirror)
4Tidding-TiddingSubtrahend close to 100/200/300...
5Nadiya PaarBoth numbers close to the SAME base
6Anti-BodmasMixed addition-subtraction chains
7Sabji Wala (Century)100/1000/multiples MINUS a number
8Bhai Bhai50 minus a number in the 20s
9Last-2-Digit FixBig numbers whose last 2 digits are close
10Master TableAll 8 approaches summarized
Type 1 — Todu-Modu Approach
  • Break the number being subtracted (using the units digit of the first number) into two convenient parts.
Example: 83 − 7
Break 7 as (3+4) using unit digit of 83 Step 1: 83 − 3 = 80 Step 2: 80 − 4 = 76
Example: 87 − 9
Break 9 as (7+2) using unit digit of 87 Step 1: 87 − 7 = 80 Step 2: 80 − 2 = 78
⚡ QUICK RECALL
Pehle apni first number ka unit digit hata ke round number banao, phir bacha hua subtract karo — do chhote steps mein poora ho jaata hai.
Type 2(a) — Sita-Gita (Judwa) Approach — 2-digit Mirror
Use when: a 2-digit number is subtracted from its digit-reversal (Judwa pair)
Example: 63 − 36
Step 1: Difference between digits: 6−3 = 3 Step 2: Multiply always by 9: 3×9 = 27
⚡ QUICK RECALL
2-digit mirror subtraction = (digit difference) × 9 — always.
Type 2(b) — Sita-Gita Approach — 3-digit Mirror
Use when: a 3-digit number is subtracted from its digit-reversal (middle digit stays fixed)
Example: 652 − 256
Step 1: Difference between FIRST and LAST digit: 6−2 = 4 Step 2: Multiply always by 99: 4×99 = 396
⚠ EXAM TRAP
3-digit mirror subtraction ka multiplier 99 hai, 2-digit ka 9 — aur sirf FIRST aur LAST digit ka difference lena hai, middle digit ignore karo (wo automatically cancel ho jaata hai).
Type 3 — Tidding-Tidding Approach (Subtrahend Near a Base)
Use when: the number BEING SUBTRACTED is close to 100, 200, 300...
Example: 167 − 96
Consider 96 as 100 (4 extra) Step 1: Subtract 100 from 167: 67 Step 2: Add back the extra: 67+4 = 71
Example: 667 − 293
Consider 293 as 300 (7 extra) Step 1: Subtract 300 from 667: 367 Step 2: Add back extra: 367+7 = 374
⚡ QUICK RECALL
Round the SUBTRAHEND up to its nearest base, subtract that clean base, then ADD BACK the extra you over-subtracted.
Type 4 — Nadiya Paar Approach (Both Numbers Near Same Base)
Use when: BOTH numbers are close to the same base (100, 200, 300...) — find each number's margin from that base and ADD the margins
Example: 915 − 888 (base = 900)
Step 1: 915 is 15 above 900 Step 2: 888 is 12 below 900 Add the margins: 15+12 = 27
Example: 1205 − 778 (base = 800)
Step 1: 1205 is 405 above 800 Step 2: 778 is 22 below 800 Add margins: 405+22 = 427
⚠ EXAM TRAP
"Nadiya Paar" (crossing the river) — dono numbers ek hi base ke "kinare" (bank) pe hone chahiye, ek upar ek neeche. Agar dono same side pe hon (dono base se upar ya dono neeche), yeh approach kaam nahi karega — margins subtract karne padenge, add nahi.
⚡ QUICK RECALL
Ek number base ke upar (+margin), doosra base ke neeche (−margin) → seedha dono margins ADD kar do.
Type 5 — Anti-Bodmas Approach (Reorder for Easy Subtraction)
It's not necessary to always calculate left-to-right — if two numbers in the chain are close to each other, subtract them FIRST
Example: 25 + 63 − 65
Step 1: 63 and 65 are close → do this first: 63−65 = −2 Step 2: Add to 25: 25+(−2) = 23
Example: −267 + 196 + 253
Step 1: 253 and 267 are close → 253−267 = −14 Step 2: Add to 196: 196−14 = 182
⚡ QUICK RECALL
Poori expression ko scan karo — jo do numbers sabse close hain unhe pehle nipta do, phir baaki simple ho jaata hai. Yeh Addition ke Giddh Approach ka subtraction-version hai.
Type 6 — Sabji Wala / Century Approach (100/1000 − Number)
Use when: subtracting a number FROM 100, 1000, or their multiples
Example: 100 − 36 (Method A — build up)
Try to make 36 reach 100: Step 1: Add 4 to 36 → 40 Step 2: Add 60 to 40 → 100 Total added: 4+60 = 64 (Answer)
Example: 100 − 36 (Method B — break and subtract)
36 = 30+6 Step 1: 100−30 = 70 Step 2: 70−6 = 64
Example: 1000 − 357
357 = 300+50+7 Step 1: 1000−300 = 700 Step 2: 700−50 = 650 Step 3: 650−7 = 643
⚡ QUICK RECALL
Sabji-wale ko change dete waqt yehi karte hain — number ko place-value pieces mein tod ke ek-ek karke base se ghatao.
Type 7 — Bhai Bhai Approach (50 − Number in 20s)
Rule: Whenever subtracting a number in the 20s (21, 22, 23...) from 50, the answer is always in the 20s too
Formula
Tens place of answer = always 2 Units place of answer = 10 − (units digit of subtracted number)
Example: 50 − 26
Tens place = 2 Units place = 10−6 = 4 Answer: 24
Example: 50 − 28
Tens place = 2 Units place = 10−8 = 2 Answer: 22
⚠ EXAM TRAP
"Bhai Bhai" (brothers) — dono numbers 20s family ke hain (subtracted number bhi 20s mein, answer bhi 20s mein). Yeh sirf 50 se subtract karne par kaam karta hai, kisi aur base pe nahi.
Type 8 — Last-2-Digit Proximity Method
Use when: two big numbers being subtracted have last-2-digits that are close to each other
Example: 4449 − 3051
Step 1: Add a convenient base (1400) to smaller number (3051) to get close to 4449: 3051+1400 = 4451 Step 2: Now you're 2 steps AHEAD of 4449 (4451 vs 4449) Step 3: Subtract that overshoot from your base: 1400−2 = 1398 (Answer)
⚡ QUICK RECALL
Guess a round gap (like 1400) between the two numbers, add it to the smaller number, see how far off you land from the bigger number, then correct the guessed gap by that overshoot/undershoot.
⚠ EXAM TRAP
Agar guess ke baad result BADA nikle target se, to overshoot ko base se GHATAO (jaisa example mein hua). Agar CHHOTA nikle, to undershoot ko base mein JODO.
📋 Master Table — All Subtraction Approaches
ApproachWhen to UseCore Rule
Todu-ModuNumber − 1-digitBreak subtrahend using first number's unit digit
Sita-Gita (2-digit)Number − its mirror(digit difference) × 9
Sita-Gita (3-digit)Number − its mirror(first−last digit difference) × 99
Tidding-TiddingSubtrahend near a baseSubtract full base, add back the extra
Nadiya PaarBoth numbers near same baseAdd the two margins from base
Anti-BodmasMixed +/− chainSubtract closest pair first, then combine
Sabji Wala (Century)100/1000/multiple − numberBreak subtrahend by place value, subtract stepwise
Bhai Bhai50 − (20s number)Tens=2, Units=10−unit digit
Last-2-Digit FixBig numbers, close last-2-digitsGuess round gap, add to smaller, correct by overshoot
🔑 Approach Selection Flowchart
  • Subtracting a single digit → Todu-Modu
  • Number − its own digit-reversal → Sita-Gita (Judwa)
  • Only the subtrahend is near a round base → Tidding-Tidding
  • BOTH numbers are near the SAME round base → Nadiya Paar
  • Chain of + and − with two close numbers in it → Anti-Bodmas
  • Subtracting FROM 100/1000/multiples → Sabji Wala
  • 50 minus a 20s number → Bhai Bhai
  • Big 4-digit numbers with close last-2-digits → Last-2-Digit Fix