minus sign
Definition
- Noun:
- A sign indicating the operation of subtraction: The "minus sign" is the mathematical symbol "−" used to denote the operation of taking away one quantity from another, or to indicate a negative value.
Usage
- The "minus sign" is used in arithmetic and algebra.
- It is placed between two numbers to show subtraction (e.g., 5 − 2).
- It is placed before a single number to indicate a negative value (e.g., −10°C).
- It is distinct from the hyphen (-) and the en dash (–) in typography, though they may look similar.
Examples
- In subtraction:
- Indicating a negative number:
- In financial contexts:
Advanced Usage
- In set theory: The minus sign can denote the set difference (or relative complement) of two sets. For example, means the set of elements that are in A but not in B.
- In programming and spreadsheets: The minus sign is used as the subtraction operator in code and formulas (e.g., in Excel).
Variants and Related Words
- Minus (preposition/conjunction/adjective/noun): The word from which the sign derives. It can function as a preposition (), an adjective (), or a noun ().
- Subtraction sign: A less common synonym for "minus sign."
- Negative sign: Often used interchangeably with "minus sign" when indicating a negative value, though technically the "negative sign" is a unary operator, while the "minus sign" in subtraction is a binary operator.
Synonyms
- Subtraction symbol
- Negative sign (when denoting a negative value)
Related Phrases
- Plus-minus sign (±): A symbol meaning "plus or minus," used to indicate a margin of error or two possible values (e.g., 5 ± 2 kg).
- Minus function: Not a standard phrase for the sign itself, but refers to the operation it represents.
Noun
-
a sign indicating the operation of subtraction
