Operation under which each pair of numbers, called the terms of the subtraction, is made to correspond to a new number called the difference of these terms.
We can define a subtraction operation in different sets such as number sets, relationship sets, geometric figure sets, etc.
The inverse operation of subtraction is addition.
Symbol
The symbol for subtraction is – which is read as: “minus”.
Properties
- Subtraction is not always defined in the set of whole numbers.
- In fact: 8 – 12 = –4, which is not a whole number.
- Subtraction is not a commutative operation: 5 – 8 ≠ 8 – 5.
Example
Consider this subtraction: 84 – 45 = 39.
The numbers 84 and 45 are the terms of the subtraction.
The number 39 is the difference.
| 84 | – | 45 | = | 39 |
| term | ↑ | term | ↑ | difference |
| minus | is equal to |