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subtraction (Definition)

Subtraction is a mathematical operation in which the value of a number is decreased by the values of one or more other numbers. Subtraction can be seen as a kind of addition with negative numbers. For example, $7 - 4 = 7 + (-4) = 3$

The usual operator looks like a dash: $-$ This operator is used in standard infix notation as well as in Polish notation and reverse Polish notation.

Besides the possibility of overflow or underflow, subtraction presents no problems for fixed point arithmetic provided the operands are representable in fixed point to begin with.



"subtraction" is owned by PrimeFan.
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table of subtraction up to 12 (Data Structure) by PrimeFan
difference (Definition) by pahio
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Cross-references: representable, fixed point arithmetic, reverse Polish notation, Polish notation, infix notation, operator, negative numbers, addition, number, operation
There are 61 references to this entry.

This is version 3 of subtraction, born on 2007-01-17, modified 2007-09-27.
Object id is 8787, canonical name is Subtraction.
Accessed 3151 times total.

Classification:
AMS MSC: 11B25 (Number theory :: Sequences and sets :: Arithmetic progressions)
 00A05 (General :: General and miscellaneous specific topics :: General mathematics)
 00A06 (General :: General and miscellaneous specific topics :: Mathematics for nonmathematicians )
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Subtraction in numerals by pahio on 2007-09-27 10:15:14
The numerals in most languages utilize the multiplication and the addition in forming compound numerals, e.g.
"two hundred" = '2 times hundred',
"a thousand and five" = 'thousand plus 5'.

There are also languages using the subtraction in certain numerals.

For example the Finnish words for 8 (kahdeksan) and 9 (yhdeks\"an) have originally meant '10-2' and '10-1', viz. the numerals for 2 and 1 are "kaksi" (stem "kahde-", "kahte-") and "yksi" (stem "yhde-", "yhte-"). So "kahdeksan" has in ancient times meant literally 'there are missing two from ten' and "yhdeks\"an" analogically. The situation is similar in other Finnic languages, as in Mordvin and Mari.
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