Meaning & use
subtrahend
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Meaning
nouncountabletechnicalmathematics
In a subtraction problem, the number that is taken away from another number.
Grammar: Countable: use 'a subtrahend' or 'the subtrahend' when referring to a specific number being subtracted.
Patterns
- the subtrahend is ...
- subtract the subtrahend from the minuend
- find the subtrahend
In the equation 10 - 4 = 6, the subtrahend is 4.
To check your answer, add the subtrahend back to the difference.
The teacher asked the class to identify the subtrahend in each problem.
Word forms
| plural | subtrahends |
|---|
Common combinations
- subtract the subtrahend
- You subtract the subtrahend from the minuend to get the difference.
- the subtrahend is
- In 15 - 7, the subtrahend is 7.
- identify the subtrahend
- Can you identify the subtrahend in this expression?
Word family
- subtract verb
- To take one number away from another.
- subtraction noun
- The process of taking one number away from another.
Commonly confused: subtrahend or minuend?
subtrahend vs minuend
The minuend is the number you subtract from; the subtrahend is the number you take away. In 8 - 3, 8 is the minuend and 3 is the subtrahend.
Practice
In the subtraction 20 - 6 = 14, which number is the subtrahend?
Choose one answer.
The subtrahend is the number being taken away, which is 6. 20 is the minuend (the number you subtract from), and 14 is the difference (the result).
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “subtrahend”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.