Mathematics Atlas

How Proof Is Made
Sign In
Text size
100%
Theme
Mathematical Object

Minus Sign

Logic, Foundations and Set Theory

The minus sign, together with the plus sign, is a mathematical symbol used to denote negative and positive quantities. The minus sign represents the operation of subtraction, which produces a difference, just as the plus sign represents addition, which produces a sum. Plus and minus are Latin terms meaning more and less respectively. This description is adapted from Wikipedia contributors under CC BY-SA 4.0; changes were made. https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/

Facts
Classification
Object Kind
Notation Symbol 1
Connections

Attributed To

Source Minus Sign (Wikipedia)

In Branch

Source Wolfram MathWorld: Minus Sign

Is Kind Of Object

Sources
1. Plus and Minus Signs (Wikipedia)
Lead section
Quote, Lead section
The plus sign (+) and the minus sign (−) are mathematical symbols used to denote positive and negative functions, respectively.
View the Source
Wolfram MathWorld: Minus Sign
Wolfram MathWorldIn Branch: Arithmetic, Subject classifications
Quote, In Branch: Arithmetic, Subject classifications
Number Theory Arithmetic
View the Source
Minus Sign (Wikipedia)
Attributed To: Luca Pacioli, Lead
Quote, Attributed To: Luca Pacioli, Lead
The symbols (P with overline, p̄, for più (more), i.e., plus, and M with overline, m̄, for meno (less), i.e., minus) appeared for the first time in Luca Pacioli's mathematics compendium, Summa de arithmetica, geometria, proportioni et proportionalità, first printed and published in Venice in 1494
View the Source
Comments (0)
No comments yet. Be the first to share a thought.
Reader Challenges (0)
No disputes yet. Spotted an error or a better source? Open the first one.