In arithmetic and higher mathematics, subtraction is the inverse operation of addition.

In lower-level elementary mathematics and when using signed integers in programming languages, subtracting a number from a number with lower value is undefined.

Subtraction in different fieldsEdit

• Integer subtraction: a - b is equivalent to a + -b, where -b is the additive inverse of b.
  • Example: 9 - 8 = 1
• Real number and complex number subtraction:
  • Example: 8.2 - (5 + 2i) = 3.2 - 2i
• Matrix subtraction: A - B = A + -B

PropertiesEdit

• Generally, subtraction is not commutative nor associative.
• 3 - 6 ≠  6 - 3
• But keep in mind that 6-3=3 and 3-6=negative3, so switching the subtahend with the minuend gives the inverse difference.

In real life.Edit

Subtraction is used in real life like addition like in computing change, calculating the amount remaining from a bank account, and many others.

EstimationEdit

This can be done in the same way as addition.

See alsoEdit

• Addition
• Subtrahend
• Minuend
• Difference