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Subtraction

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The arithmetical operation opposite to addition, i.e. finding one of the terms from the given sum and the given other term. The given sum is named the minuend, the given term is known as the subtrahend, while the term to be found is called the difference. Subtraction is denoted by $-$ (minus). Thus, in the expression

$$a-b=c,$$

$a$ is the minuend, $b$ is the subtrahend and $c$ is the difference.

References

[a1] P.M. Cohn, "Algebra", 1, Wiley (1982) pp. 136
How to Cite This Entry:
Subtraction. Encyclopedia of Mathematics. URL: http://encyclopediaofmath.org/index.php?title=Subtraction&oldid=53856