Minus Sign

Definition

The minus sign is a mathematical symbol used to indicate subtraction or a negative value. It represents the operation of taking one number away from another, or denoting that a number is less than zero.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. The minus sign is used to indicate that a number is being subtracted from another number.
2. When subtracting a positive number, the minus sign changes the sign of the number being subtracted to negative.
3. Subtracting a negative number is the same as adding the absolute value of the negative number.
4. The minus sign is also used to denote that a number is less than zero, creating a negative integer.
5. Proper placement of the minus sign is crucial when performing subtraction operations to ensure the correct result.

Review Questions

• How does the minus sign affect the value of a number during subtraction?
  • The minus sign changes the sign of the number being subtracted, turning a positive number into a negative number and vice versa. For example, subtracting 5 from 10 would be written as 10 - 5, which equals 5. However, subtracting -5 from 10 would be written as 10 - (-5), which is the same as 10 + 5, resulting in 15.
• Explain the relationship between the minus sign and negative integers.
  • The minus sign is used to denote that a number is less than zero, creating a negative integer. Negative integers are part of the set of integers, which includes all whole numbers, both positive and negative, as well as zero. The placement of the minus sign before a numeral indicates that the value is negative, meaning it is less than zero. For example, -7 is a negative integer, representing a value that is 7 less than zero.
• Analyze how the proper use of the minus sign is crucial when performing subtraction operations.
  • Accurately placing the minus sign is essential for correctly performing subtraction operations. If the minus sign is not positioned correctly, the resulting calculation will be incorrect. For instance, in the expression 15 - (-5), the minus sign is correctly placed before the negative number, indicating that 5 is being added to 15. However, if the minus sign is mistakenly placed as 15 - 5, the result would be 10, which is incorrect. Careful attention to the placement of the minus sign is crucial to ensure the proper execution of subtraction problems.

Related terms

Subtraction:

The mathematical operation of removing or taking away one number from another to find the difference.

Negative Number: A number that is less than zero, typically represented with a minus sign in front of the numeral.

Integer:

A whole number, including positive, negative, and zero values.