What is the difference between 85 and 39?

To determine the difference between 85 and 39, you perform a subtraction operation: 85 minus 39. This calculation can be broken down as follows:

1. Start with the larger number, which is 85.

2. Remove the smaller number, which is 39, by subtracting it from 85.

The calculation looks like this:

85 - 39 = 46

Thus, the correct answer to the question about the difference between 85 and 39 is indeed 46. This value indicates how much greater 85 is than 39. Taking away 39 from 85 reveals that there are 46 units between the two numbers on a number line. Understanding this process helps in grasping fundamental arithmetic and subtraction.