Definition:Subtraction/Subtrahend

Definition

Let $a - b$ denote the operation of subtraction on two objects.

The object $b$ is known as the subtrahend of $a - b$.

Note that the nature of $a$ and $b$ has deliberately been left unspecified.

They could be, for example, numbers, matrices or more complex expressions constructed from such elements.

Also see

• Definition:Minuend

Linguistic Note

The word subtrahend derives from the Latin subtrahendus numerus, meaning number which is to be subtracted.

Sources

• 1989: Ephraim J. Borowski and Jonathan M. Borwein: Dictionary of Mathematics ... (previous) ... (next): subtrahend
• 1998: David Nelson: The Penguin Dictionary of Mathematics (2nd ed.) ... (previous) ... (next): subtraction
• 1998: David Nelson: The Penguin Dictionary of Mathematics (2nd ed.) ... (previous) ... (next): subtrahend
• 2008: David Nelson: The Penguin Dictionary of Mathematics (4th ed.) ... (previous) ... (next): subtraction
• 2008: David Nelson: The Penguin Dictionary of Mathematics (4th ed.) ... (previous) ... (next): subtrahend