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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 ]
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.
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.
Negative numbers: Real numbers that are less than zero. Because zero itself has no sign, neither the positive numbers nor the negative numbers include zero. When zero is a possibility, the following terms are often used: Non-negative numbers: Real numbers that are greater than or equal to zero. Thus a non-negative number is either zero or positive.
The plus–minus sign or plus-or-minus sign (±) and the complementary minus-or-plus sign (∓) are symbols with broadly similar multiple meanings. In mathematics , the ± sign generally indicates a choice of exactly two possible values, one of which is obtained through addition and the other through subtraction .
As an example, −6 + 4 = −2; because −6 and 4 have different signs, their absolute values are subtracted, and since the absolute value of the negative term is larger, the answer is negative. Although this definition can be useful for concrete problems, the number of cases to consider complicates proofs unnecessarily.
In elementary mathematics, the additive inverse is often referred to as the opposite number, [3] [4] or its negative. [5] The unary operation of arithmetic negation [6] is closely related to subtraction [7] and is important in solving algebraic equations. [8] Not all sets where addition is defined have an additive inverse, such as the natural ...
The word negative would be used to say that the quantity x is negative, if it equals minus 5. On the other hand, we say "6 minus minus 5 is 11", whereas in the usage of the last comment, we could say, more clearly, "6 minus negative 5 is 11". But if we really want to be that clear, we also have available "6 subtract minus 5 is 11".