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The plus sign (+) and the minus sign (−) are mathematical symbols used to denote positive and negative functions, respectively. In addition, + represents the operation of addition , which results in a sum , while − represents subtraction , resulting in a difference . [ 1 ]
The plus and minus symbols are used to show the sign of a number. In mathematics, the sign of a real number is its property of being either positive, negative, or 0.Depending on local conventions, zero may be considered as having its own unique sign, having no sign, or having both positive and negative sign.
Since 2 × (−3) = −6, the product (−2) × (−3) must equal 6. These rules lead to another (equivalent) rule—the sign of any product a × b depends on the sign of a as follows: if a is positive, then the sign of a × b is the same as the sign of b, and; if a is negative, then the sign of a × b is the opposite of the sign of b.
1. Denotes addition and is read as plus; for example, 3 + 2. 2. Denotes that a number is positive and is read as plus. Redundant, but sometimes used for emphasizing that a number is positive, specially when other numbers in the context are or may be negative; for example, +2. 3.
The simplest conception of an integer is that it consists of an absolute value (which is a natural number) and a sign (generally either positive or negative). The integer zero is a special third case, being neither positive nor negative. The corresponding definition of addition must proceed by cases: For an integer n, let |n| be its absolute value.
In mathematical formulas, the ± symbol may be used to indicate a symbol that may be replaced by either of the plus and minus signs, + or −, allowing the formula to represent two values or two equations. [2] If x 2 = 9, one may give the solution as x = ±3. This indicates that the equation has two solutions: x = +3 and x = −3.
Illustration of the perfect number status of the number 6. In number theory, a perfect number is a positive integer that is equal to the sum of its positive proper divisors, that is, divisors excluding the number itself. For instance, 6 has proper divisors 1, 2 and 3, and 1 + 2 + 3 = 6, so 6 is a perfect number.
Euler's sum of powers conjecture § k = 3, relating to cubes that can be written as a sum of three positive cubes; Plato's number, an ancient text possibly discussing the equation 3 3 + 4 3 + 5 3 = 6 3; Taxicab number, the smallest integer that can be expressed as a sum of two positive integer cubes in n distinct ways