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See also: [U+207B SUPERSCRIPT MINUS], - [U+002D HYPHEN-MINUS], [U+2010 HYPHEN], [U+2013 EN DASH], [U+2014 EM DASH], [U+30FC KATAKANA-HIRAGANA PROLONGED SOUND MARK], and [U+4E00 CJK UNIFIED IDEOGRAPH-4E00]

U+2212, −
MINUS SIGN

[U+2211]
Mathematical Operators
[U+2213]

Translingual

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Glyph origin

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There are many theories regarding the origin of the minus sign. According to one theory, it originates from a handwriting form of the letter m (for minus) that came to resemble a horizontal bar,[1] Another theory traces it back to a hieratic sign.

Symbol

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(English symbol name minus sign)

  1. (mathematics) subtraction
    8 − 3 = 5
  2. (mathematics) negative sign. "negative", "minus", "the opposite of"
    • Aldrichimica Acta Volume 30 No 4 (pdf) from Sigma-Aldrich
      Decomposition of 4 in the presence of cis-piperylene at room temperature results in the stereocontrolled formation of trans-cycloheptadiene 27 in 90% ee (96% ee at -78 °C).
    −(−5) = 5
  3. (informal, slang) Less than, or “or less”.
    13-
    less than 13 (years old)
  4. (mathematics) Relative complement. "minus", "without".
    {1,2,4} − {1,3,4} = {2}
  5. (mathematics) from the negative side
    is the same as
  6. (medicine) rejective result from laboratory test
  7. (electricity) cathode

Quotations

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For quotations using this term, see Citations:−.

Synonyms

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  • (non-Anglophone countries) ÷
  • (relative complement):

Antonyms

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  • (antonym(s) of all except relative complement): +
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  • - (hyphen-minus)

References

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  1. ^ Wright, D. Franklin, New, Bill D. (2000) Intermediate Algebra, 4th edition, Thomson Learning, page 1