To use compensation to mentally solve a subtraction problem, Audrey would typically adjust one of the numbers involved to make the calculation easier. Here are the general steps involved:
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Compensate: Adjust one of the numbers to a simpler form. For example, if you are solving \( 52 - 27 \), you could adjust \( 27 \) to \( 30 \), which is easier to work with.
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Calculate the difference using the adjusted number: After adjusting, perform the subtraction with the simpler number. For our example, you would do \( 52 - 30 = 22 \).
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Adjust back for the compensation: Finally, you would need to account for the adjustment you made in step 1. Since you subtracted \( 3 \) (because \( 30 - 27 = 3 \)), you must add that \( 3 \) back to your result from step 2.
So in the example of \( 52 - 27 \):
- You first calculated \( 52 - 30 = 22 \).
- Then you adjusted back by adding \( 3 \): \( 22 + 3 = 25 \).
The final answer to the problem \( 52 - 27, \) using compensation, is \( 25 \).
Final Step: Add back the amount you compensated in the first step.
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