What will come in place of the question mark $(?)$ in the following question?
\[34.667 - 15.597 - 8.491 - 0.548 = ?\]
$(a){\text{ 14}}{\text{.403}}$
$(b){\text{ 10}}{\text{.031}}$
$(c){\text{ 18}}{\text{.301}}$
$(d){\text{ 21}}{\text{.043}}$
$(e){\text{ None of these}}$

Hint: Perform the operations on the decimal values carefully. Solving two at a time can minimise errors.

We have the given expression as
\[34.667 - 15.597 - 8.491 - 0.548 = ?\]
Let us assume the missing term to be $x$, then we have
\[34.667 - 15.597 - 8.491 - 0.548 = x\]
\[34.667 - 15.597 - 9.039 = x\]
\[34.667 - 24.636 = x\]
\[\therefore x = 10.031\]
Hence, the required solution is $(b){\text{ 10}}{\text{.031}}$.

Note: To solve these types of questions, assume some value for the asked sign and substitute it in the given equation to obtain the required solution.