Subtraction is a mathematical operation that involves taking away one quantity from another to determine the difference between them. It is denoted by the symbol "-" and is considered one of the four basic arithmetic operations, along with addition, multiplication, and division.


In subtraction, the first quantity is called the minuend, and the second quantity is called the subtrahend. The result of subtraction is called the difference or remainder.

To perform subtraction, the subtrahend is subtracted from the minuend. If the subtrahend is smaller than the minuend, the difference will be a positive number. However, if the subtrahend is larger than the minuend, the difference will be a negative number, indicating a deficit or a debt.

For example, in the equation 8 - 3 = 5, 8 is the minuend, 3 is the subtrahend, and 5 is the difference. Similarly, in the equation 3 - 8 = -5, 3 is the minuend, 8 is the subtrahend, and -5 is the difference.

Subtraction is a fundamental concept in various fields, including mathematics, finance, and physics. It is widely used in everyday life for tasks such as calculating change, measuring differences, solving equations, and solving real-world problems