Symbols:Arithmetic and Algebra/Subtraction

Subtraction

$-$

Minus, or subtract.

A binary operation on two numbers or variables.

Its $\LaTeX$ code is - .

Historical Note

The use of $-$ sign in the context of subtraction of numbers first appeared in $1518$ in a work by Henricus Grammateus.

Also see

• Symbols:Addition

See:

Symbols:Negative Quantity

Symbols:Logical Not (Minus)

Symbols:Set Difference (Variant)

for other uses of this symbol.

Sources

• 2008: David Nelson: The Penguin Dictionary of Mathematics (4th ed.) ... (previous) ... (next): minus sign: 2.
• 2021: Richard Earl and James Nicholson: The Concise Oxford Dictionary of Mathematics (6th ed.) ... (previous) ... (next): Appendix $19$: Symbols and abbreviations: Real and Complex Numbers