Definition: The minus sign (−).
Alright class, settle down and let’s take a look!
You’ve asked a wonderful question about the ‘minus’ sign – that little symbol we see so often in math. It’s quite simple, really, don't you think?
The dictionary tells us it's simply the minus sign: (−). But what does
that
actually mean?
Think of it like this:
Minus means ‘take away’ or ‘subtract.’
It's the opposite of adding!
Let’s say we have five apples, and someone takes three away – that’s “five minus three.” We write it as 5 - 3. The answer? Two apples remain!
It also shows up in equations like this: 10 - 4 = 6. We're taking four away from ten to get six.
So, remember,
minus equals subtraction – a little symbol that tells us to take something
away
!
Do you have any questions about how it works? Let’s try some examples together...