Subtraction

Mathematical operation representing the difference between two quantities.

minuend - subtrahend

Subtraction is a mathematical operation that represents the difference between two quantities.

Pronunciation

/səbˈtrækʃən/

Etymology

From Latin subtractio, from subtrahere 'to draw away'.

Explain Like I’m 5

Subtraction is like taking away some of something you have, like if you start with five cookies and eat two, subtraction helps you figure out how many are left.

Fun Facts

Ancient Egyptians used a different symbol for subtraction than the minus sign we use today
Subtraction is the inverse operation of addition
The concept of subtraction was developed in ancient civilizations like Mesopotamia and Egypt

FAQ

What is subtraction? It's an operation that finds the difference between two numbers
How is it used? It's used to find how much is left after taking something away
What symbol represents subtraction? The minus sign (-) does

Synonyms — Similar or Related Terms

difference reduction

Antonyms — Opposites or Contrasts

addition

Hypernyms — Broader Categories

arithmetic mathematics

Hyponyms — Specific Examples

division multiplication

Holonyms — Wholes or Groups

arithmetic

Indexes

mathematical operation

Built by Tim Jones