−

Translingual

Glyph origin

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 Template:M) that came to resemble a horizontal bar, Another theory traces it back to a hieratic sign.

Symbol

1. Template:Lb subtraction

   8 − 3 = 5

2. Template:Lb 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. Template:Lb Less than, or “or less”.

   Template:Ux

4. Template:Lb Relative complement. "minus", "without".

   {1,2,4} − {1,3,4} = {2}

5. Template:Lb from the negative side

   $\underset{x\to a^{-}}{\lim }f(x)$ is the same as $\underset{x\uparrow a}{\lim }f(x)$

6. Template:Lb rejective result from laboratory test
7. Template:Lb cathode

Synonyms

• Template:Q Template:L
• Template:Sense Template:L

Antonyms

• Template:Antsense Template:L

Related terms

• Template:L (hyphen-minus)