What is Minuend? – Understand with Examples

For Today’s topic we all have to understand the actual Minuend meaning in math and to do so let us first of all understand what is minuend? Well, minuend is a quantity or a number from which another number is subtracted. The minuend is for one the starting point of the operation in subtraction and is an essential part of the equation in subtraction.

Here is a minuend example: Suppose you have to subtract 3 from 5. You can easily write it as: 5 – 3 = 2

But does anyone know which one of these numbers is the minuend? Well, it is the number 5.

So, now that we know what Minuend is, before we get into any further details of understanding this better, let us have a look at some frequently asked questions and doubts around Minuend and what is the Minuend meaning in math.

1. What is the minuend in math?

A number from which another number is subtracted.

2. What do we get if we subtract the difference from the minuend?

We get the subtrahend if we subtract the difference from the minuend. In the minuend example above, it would be the number ‘3’.

3. When arranging a subtraction problem, does the minuend always sit above the subtrahend?

Yes, the minuend always sits above the subtrahend.

Does this surprise you? Come let us learn more about the meaning of minuend.

Meaning of Minuend in subtraction:

The minuend is the first number in the subtraction problem. One must subtract the subtrahend from the minuend to get the difference. Let us consider the subtraction equation 7 – 4 = 3. Here, in the vertical method of subtraction or column method, the minuend is the number that is always at the top and in this example, it is the number 7.

Minuend in subtraction means in a subtraction sentence minuend is defined as the number from which we subtract another number. So, basically a subtraction sentence consists of 3 numbers which are: minuend, subtrahend, and the difference.

The minuend: is the first number in a subtraction problem.

The subtrahend: subtrahend is the portion of the minuend that is excluded to get the difference.

Difference: is the number that is left-over after subtraction.

Do you understand the Minuend in subtraction and the Minuend meaning in math now? If not, let me provide a further explanation. In math, the subtrahend is the number that you subtract from the minuend. Therefore, the minuend is the number from which you subtract, and the number that is subtracted is called the subtrahend.

Further to explain subtrahend is the term used to denote the number being subtracted from another number. Subtrahend example: in the given equation 9 – 2 = 7, 2 is the subtrahend. At the same time, the number from which another number is being subtracted is known as the minuend in the example above it is the number 9.

Below are some Minuend examples:

1. 5 – 3 = 2.
2. 6 – 3 = 3
3. 9 – 3 = 6
4. 7 – 3 = 4
5. 3 – 1 = 2
6. 23 – 11 = 12
7. 37 – 14 = 23
8. 49 – 25 = 24
9. 52 – 22 = 30
10. 68 – 58 = 10

Now that we know the first value in subtraction is known as Minuend and in the examples above the numbers: 5, 6, 9, 7, 3, 23, 37, 49, 52, and 68 are all Minuend, now let us find out about the second value in subtraction which is known as subtrahend.

Below are some subtrahend examples:

1. 4 – 2 = 2
2. 7 – 6 = 1
3. 9 – 2 = 7
4. 5 – 2 = 3
5. 8 – 4 = 4
6. 13 – 7 = 6
7. 27 – 15 = 12
8. 39 – 23 = 16
9. 47 – 18 = 29
10. 77 – 35 = 42

Now that we know the second value in subtraction is known as subtrahend and in the examples above the numbers: 2, 6, 2, 2, 4, 7, 15, 23, 18, and 35 are all subtrahend, now let us find out about the third value in subtraction which is known as the difference.

Below are some examples of finding the difference:

1. 2 – 1 = 1
2. 3 – 2 = 1
3. 5 – 2 = 3
4. 6 – 2 = 4
5. 7 – 2 = 5
6. 10 – 5 = 5
7. 16 – 6 = 10
8. 23 – 4 = 19
9. 35 – 13 = 22
10. 40 – 15 = 25

Now that we know the third value in subtraction is known as the difference and in the examples above the numbers: 1, 1, 3, 4, 5, 5, 10, 19, 22, and 25 are all the differences.

Here are some problems for you to solve. Find the minuend:

1. ___ – 5 = 4
2. ___ – 2 = 5
3. ___ – 6 = 2
4. ___ – 7 = 2
5. ___ – 3 = 3
6. ___ – 11 = 11
7. ___ – 5 = 18
8. ___ – 19 = 20
9. ___ – 12 = 32
10. ___ – 22 = 33

This is the best way to learn what Minuend is.

Here are some problems for you to solve. Find the subtrahend:

1. 9 – ___ = 6
2. 5 – ___ = 3
3. 4 – ___ = 1
4. 8 – ___ = 5
5. 6 – ___ = 1
6. 12 – ___ = 5
7. 27 -___ = 22
8. 49 – ___ = 36
9. 76 – ___ = 50
10. 93 – ___ = 50

This is the best way to learn what a subtrahend is.

Here are some problems for you to solve. Find the difference:

1. 5 – 4 = ___
2. 4 – 2 = ___
3. 8 – 4 = ___
4. 9 – 3 = ___
5. 6 – 2 = ___
6. 13 – 5 = ___
7. 29 – 7 = ___
8. 42 – 22 = ___
9. 79 – 39 = ___
10. 96 – 83 = ___

This is the best way to learn subtraction.

Also Read: Consecutive Numbers in Math

Did you know a fun fact: the word subtrahend actually means “to take away” in Latin. Everyone must always apply mathematical operations – addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division – in logic and with math theories. Every student must have a key understanding of math algebra and master these mathematical operations.

Here at EuroSchool, we want kids to not only learn the basic mathematical fundamentals but also the most advanced mathematical theories. We make learning easier for kids with the help of our extremely skilled teachers and with the help of new and modern teaching methods.