Meaning & use
minuend
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Meaning
nouncountablemathematicstechnical
In subtraction, the number from which another number is taken away.
Grammar: Countable noun: a minuend, the minuend. Often used in math lessons with subtrahend and difference.
Patterns
- the minuend
- a minuend
- minuend minus subtrahend
In the equation 10 − 3 = 7, 10 is the minuend.
To find the missing minuend, add the subtrahend and the difference.
The teacher asked the class to identify the minuend in each subtraction problem.
Word forms
| plural | minuends |
|---|
Common combinations
- the minuend and the subtrahend
- In subtraction, the minuend and the subtrahend are the two main numbers.
- find the minuend
- If the difference is 5 and the subtrahend is 3, you can find the minuend by adding them.
- subtract from the minuend
- You subtract the subtrahend from the minuend to get the difference.
Word family
- subtrahend noun
- The number that is subtracted from the minuend.
- difference noun
- The result of subtracting one number from another.
Commonly confused: minuend or subtrahend?
minuend vs subtrahend
The subtrahend is the number being taken away, while the minuend is the number it is taken from.
Practice
In the subtraction 15 − 8 = 7, which number is the minuend?
Choose one answer.
The minuend is the number from which another is subtracted, so 15 is the minuend. 8 is the subtrahend, and 7 is the difference.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “minuend”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.