subtraction

The binary operation of finding the difference between two quantities or numbers; the inverse of addition. The difference of two numbers, a - b, is the number that has to be added to b to give a. a is called the minuend and b the subtrahend. Subtraction can also be seen as the solution of an equation since the difference (a - b) may be expressed as b + x = a. The subtraction of negative numbers is equivalent to addition, since a - (-b) = a + b.

Related category

• ARITHMETIC

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