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subtraction

subtraction

11 1.1
Taking one number away from another to find the difference
  • noun
  • /səbˈtrækʃən/
translation icon : resta
  • In mathematics class, students learn subtraction as the process of taking one number away from another.
  • addition and subtraction
  • subtraction and multiplication
  • subtraction problems

Now how do you do an expansion if you have subtraction instead?

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Examples

  • For his homework, he practiced subtraction by solving various problems involving reducing numbers.

  • So I guess my point is, the whole thing here is about subtraction, not addition.

  • In other words, addition by subtraction, adding quality of life to your life by way of taking things away.

  • And he could do subtraction in his head as well as any man.

    Fiction book (2002)
  • And we call that the subtraction property of equality.

  • A streamlined life is a life that is improved through subtraction rather than addition.

  • All pupils need to acquire proficiency in addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division.

    Academic text (1995)
  • The basic operations, for example, addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division, are stressed in ascending order of complexity.

    Academic text (2006)
  • The teacher explained that subtraction is the operation used to find the difference between two quantities.

Antonyms

293 1.4

The act of putting one thing with another

Surface Forms

subtraction singular
subtractions plural

Morphology

subtraction = subtract (transparent) = sub + tract + ion

Formed by clear nominalization of the verb 'subtract' with the productive suffix '-ion' to mean 'the act or process of subtracting'.

Etymology

The word subtraction comes from the parts sub- 'under' and tract 'pull', the same part you see in tractor, a machine that pulls. So subtraction means 'taking away' or 'pulling away', which is why it refers to taking one number away from another.