Question: Mearl subtracted $164,317$ from $502,600$. Is Mearl's answer correct? If not, explain why and write the correct answer.
1. **State the problem:**
Mearl performed the subtraction $502,600 - 164,317$. We need to check if the answer is correct.
2. **Recall the subtraction formula:**
$$\text{Difference} = \text{Minuend} - \text{Subtrahend}$$
where the minuend is $502,600$ and the subtrahend is $164,317$.
3. **Perform the subtraction step-by-step:**
$$\begin{array}{r}
\phantom{0}502,600 \\
-164,317 \\
\hline
\end{array}$$
4. **Subtract units place:**
$0 - 7$ cannot be done, so borrow $1$ from the tens place.
5. **Borrowing and subtracting:**
- Borrow $1$ from $0$ in tens place, which requires borrowing from hundreds place.
- Continue borrowing until the units place has enough to subtract.
6. **Calculate each digit:**
- Units: $10 - 7 = 3$
- Tens: $9 - 1 = 8$
- Hundreds: $5 - 3 = 2$
- Thousands: $1 - 4$ cannot do, borrow $1$ from ten-thousands.
- Ten-thousands: $9 - 6 = 3$
- Hundred-thousands: $4 - 1 = 3$
7. **Write the result:**
$$502,600 - 164,317 = 338,283$$
8. **Conclusion:**
If Mearl's answer is different from $338,283$, it is incorrect. The correct answer is $338,283$.