View source for Plus and minus signs

{{Short description|Mathematical symbols (+ and −)}}
{{For|the {{char|±}} symbol|Plus–minus sign}}
{{Redirect-distinguish|Positive and negative signs|Polarity (astrology){{!}}Astrological sign polarity}}
{{Infobox symbol
|mark=+ −
|name=Plus and minus signs
|unicode= {{unichar|002B|Plus sign|html=}}  <br /> {{unichar|2212|Minus sign|html=}}
|see also= {{unichar|00B1|Plus–minus sign|nlink=Plus–minus sign}} <br /> {{unichar|2213|Minus-or-plus sign|nlink=Minus-or-plus sign}}<br />{{unichar|2052|nlink=Commercial minus sign}}
|different from = {{unichar|002D|nlink=Hyphen-minus}} <br /> {{unichar|2010|nlink=Hyphen}} <br /> (many) – [[Dash]]
}}

The '''plus sign''' ({{char|+}}) and the '''minus sign''' ({{char|−}}) are [[Glossary of mathematical symbols|mathematical symbols]] used to denote [[sign (mathematics)|positive]] and [[sign (mathematics)|negative]] functions, respectively. In addition, {{char|+}} represents the operation of [[addition]], which results in a [[Sum (mathematics)|sum]], while {{char|−}} represents [[subtraction]], resulting in a [[difference (mathematics)|difference]].<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|last=Weisstein|first=Eric W.|title=Subtraction|url=https://mathworld.wolfram.com/Subtraction.html|access-date=2020-08-26|website=mathworld.wolfram.com|language=en|archive-date=2020-09-14|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200914175534/https://mathworld.wolfram.com/Subtraction.html|url-status=live}}</ref> Their use has been extended to many other meanings, more or less analogous. {{lang|la|Plus}} and {{lang|la|minus}} are [[Latin]] terms meaning "more" and "less", respectively.

The forms {{angbr|+}} and {{angbr|−}} are used in many countries around the world. Other designs include {{angbr|[[﬩]]}} for plus and {{angbr|[[⁒]]}} for minus.

== History ==
Though the signs now seem as familiar as the [[alphabet]] or the [[Hindu–Arabic numeral system|Hindu–Arabic numerals]], they are not of great antiquity. The [[Egyptian hieroglyph]]ic sign for addition, for example, resembled a pair of legs walking in the direction in which the text was written ([[Egyptian language|Egyptian]] could be written either from right to left or left to right), with the reverse sign indicating subtraction:<ref>
{{cite journal
 | last = Karpinski | first = Louis C.
 | doi = 10.2307/2973180
 | issue = 6
 | journal = [[The American Mathematical Monthly]]
 | mr = 1518824
 | pages = 257–265
 | title = Algebraical Developments Among the Egyptians and Babylonians
 | volume = 24
 | year = 1917| jstor = 2973180
 }}</ref>
{| align="center"
|<hiero>D54</hiero> or <hiero>D55</hiero>
|}

[[Nicole Oresme]]'s [[Manuscript|manuscripts]] from the 14th century show what may be one of the earliest uses of {{char|+}} as a sign for plus.<ref>[http://educ.ubc.ca/courses/etec540/Sep02/ResearchAssignment/LustigovaZ/ra-LustigovaZ.htm The birth of symbols – Zdena Lustigova, Faculty of Mathematics and Physics Charles University, Prague] {{webarchive|url=https://archive.today/20130708153352/http://educ.ubc.ca/courses/etec540/Sep02/ResearchAssignment/LustigovaZ/ra-LustigovaZ.htm |date=2013-07-08 }}</ref>

In early 15th century Europe, the letters "P" and "M" were generally used.<ref name="ley196504">{{Cite magazine
 |last=Ley
 |first=Willy
 |date=April 1965
 |title=Symbolically Speaking
 |department=For Your Information
 |url=https://archive.org/stream/Galaxy_v23n04_1965-04#page/n57/mode/2up
 |magazine=Galaxy Science Fiction
 |pages=57–67
}}</ref><ref>{{cite journal|last=Stallings|first=Lynn|date=May 2000|title=A brief history of algebraic notation|journal=School Science and Mathematics|volume=100|issue=5|pages=230–235|doi=10.1111/j.1949-8594.2000.tb17262.x|url=https://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1949-8594.2000.tb17262.x|access-date=13 April 2009}}</ref>
The symbols (P with overline, {{char|p̄}}, for {{lang|IT|più}} (more), i.e., plus, and M with overline, {{char|m̄}}, for {{lang|IT|meno}} (less), i.e., minus) appeared for the first time in [[Luca Pacioli]]'s mathematics [[compendium]], {{lang|IT|[[Summa de arithmetica|Summa de arithmetica, geometria, proportioni et proportionalità]]}}, first printed and published in [[Venice]] in 1494.<ref>{{cite journal |first1=Alan |last1=Sangster |first2=Greg |last2=Stoner |first3=Patricia |last3=McCarthy |title=The market for Luca Pacioli's Summa Arithmetica |journal=Accounting Historians Journal |volume=35 |issue=1 |year=2008 |pages=111–134 [p. 115] |url=http://eprints.mdx.ac.uk/3201/1/final_final_proof_Market_paper_050308.pdf |doi=10.2308/0148-4184.35.1.111 |s2cid=107010686 |access-date=2012-04-29 |archive-date=2018-01-26 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180126012523/http://eprints.mdx.ac.uk/3201/1/final_final_proof_Market_paper_050308.pdf |url-status=live }}</ref>

The {{char|+}} sign is a simplification of the {{langx|la|et}} (comparable to the evolution of the [[ampersand]] {{char|&}}).<ref>{{cite book|last=Cajori|first=Florian|title=A History of Mathematical Notations, Vol. 1|title-link=A History of Mathematical Notations|year=1928|publisher=The Open Court Company, Publishers|chapter=Origin and meanings of the signs + and -}}</ref> The {{char|−}} may be derived from a [[Macron (diacritic)|macron]] <span style="font-family: serif">{{char|◌̄}}</span> written over {{angbr|m}} when used to indicate subtraction; or it may come from a shorthand version of the letter {{angbr|m}} itself.<ref>{{cite book|title=Intermediate Algebra|edition=4th|year=2000|first1=D. Franklin|last1=Wright|first2=Bill D.|last2=New|publisher=Thomson Learning|page=1|quote=The minus sign or bar, — , is thought to be derived from the habit of early scribes of using a bar to represent the letter m}}</ref>

[[File:Johannes_Widmann-Mercantile_Arithmetic_1489.jpg|thumb|alt=A page from Johannes Widmann's book |From [[Johannes Widmann]]'s book on "handy and pretty [[arithmetic]] for all [[merchant|merchants]]"<ref name="widmann1489">{{cite web |last1=Widmann |first1=Johannes |title=Behe[n]de vnd hubsche Rechenung auff allen kauffmanschafft |year=1489 |url=https://www.digitale-sammlungen.de/en/view/bsb00035102?page=176,177 |page=176 |publisher=Leipzig : Konrad Kachelofen |access-date=2022-05-03 |archive-date=2022-05-03 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220503161118/https://www.digitale-sammlungen.de/en/view/bsb00035102?page=176,177 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="widmann1508">{{cite web |last1=Widmann |first1=Johannes |title=Behend vnd hüpsch Rechnung vff allen Kauffmanschafften |year=1508 |url=https://www.digitale-sammlungen.de/en/view/bsb00003523?page=122,123 |page=122 |publisher=Kolophon: Gedruck zů Pfhortzheim von Thoman Anßhelm |access-date=2022-05-03 |archive-date=2022-05-03 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220503161116/https://www.digitale-sammlungen.de/en/view/bsb00003523?page=122,123 |url-status=live }}</ref>]]
In his 1489 treatise, [[Johannes Widmann]] referred to the symbols {{char|−}} and {{char|+}} as ''minus'' and ''mer'' (Modern German {{lang|DE|mehr}}; "more"): {{lang|DE|"[...] was − ist das ist minus [...] und das + das ist mer das zu addirst"}}.{{R|widmann1489}}{{R|widmann1508}}<ref name="OED">{{OED|plus}}</ref> They were not used for addition and subtraction in the treatise, but were used to indicate surplus and deficit; usage in the modern sense is attested in a 1518 book by [[Henricus Grammateus]].<ref>{{cite book|last=Smith|author-link=David Eugene Smith|first=D.E.|title=History of Mathematics|isbn=0486204308 |publisher=Courier Dover Publications|year=1951|volume=1|pages=258, 330}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=https://jeff560.tripod.com/operation.html |title=Earliest Uses of Symbols of Operation |access-date=2022-05-03 |archive-date=2022-04-29 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220429221229/https://jeff560.tripod.com/operation.html |url-status=live }}</ref>

[[Robert Recorde]], the designer of the [[equals sign]], introduced plus and minus to Britain in 1557 in ''[[The Whetstone of Witte]]'':<ref>{{citation|title=A History of Mathematical Notations|first=Florian|last=Cajori|author-link=Florian Cajori|publisher=Cosimo|year=2007|isbn=9781602066847|page=164|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=rhEh8jPGQOcC&pg=PA164}}.</ref> "There be other 2 signes in often use of which the first is made thus + and betokeneth more: the other is thus made − and betokeneth lesse."

== Plus sign ==
{{Redirect|+}}
The plus sign ({{char|+}}) is a [[binary operator]] that indicates [[addition]], as in {{math|1=2 + 3 = 5}}. It can also serve as a [[unary operator]] that leaves its [[operand]] [[identity function|unchanged]] ({{math|+''x''}} means the same as {{math|''x''}}). This notation may be used when it is desired to emphasize the positiveness of a number, especially in contrast with the [[negative number]]s ({{math|+5}} versus {{math|−5}}).

The plus sign can also indicate many other operations, depending on the mathematical system under consideration. Many [[algebraic structure]]s, such as [[vector space]]s and [[matrix ring]]s, have some operation which is called, or is equivalent to, addition. It is though conventional to use the plus sign to only denote [[commutative property|commutative operation]]s.<ref name="Fraleigh">{{cite book
 | last = Fraleigh
 | first = John B.
 | title = A First Course in Abstract Algebra
 | publisher = [[Addison-Wesley]]
 | edition = 4
 | year = 1989
 | location = United States
 | pages = 52
 | isbn = 0-201-52821-5
 }}</ref>

The symbol is also used in [[chemistry]] and [[physics]]. For more, see {{Section link||Other uses}}.

== Minus sign ==
{{redirect|Minus}}
The minus sign ({{char|−}}) has three main uses in mathematics:<ref>{{Cite book|
title= The Algebra Lab | url= https://books.google.com/books?id=nzukMBV6ReoC&pg=PA9 | author=Henri Picciotto | publisher=Creative Publications | page=9 | isbn=978-0-88488-964-9|year = 1990}}</ref>
# The [[subtraction]] operator: a [[binary operator]] to indicate the operation of subtraction, as in {{math|1=5 − 3 = 2}}. Subtraction is the inverse of addition.<ref name=":0" />
# The [[Function (mathematics)|function]] whose [[Value (mathematics)|value]] for any [[Real number|real]] or [[Complex number|complex]] [[Argument of a function|argument]] is the [[additive inverse]] of that argument. For example, if {{math|1=''x'' = 3}}, then {{math|1=−''x'' = −3}}, but if {{math|1=''x'' = −3}}, then {{math|1=−''x'' = +3}}. Similarly, {{math|1=−(−''x'') = ''x''}}.
# {{anchor|negative_sign}}A [[prefix]] of a numeric constant.  When it is placed immediately before an unsigned numeral, the combination names a negative number, the additive inverse of the positive number that the numeral would otherwise name.  In this usage, '{{math|−5}}' names a number the same way 'semicircle' names a geometric figure, with the caveat that 'semi' does not have a separate use as a function name.

In many contexts, it does not matter whether the second or the third of these usages is intended: {{math|−5}} is the same number.  When it is important to distinguish them, a raised minus sign ({{char|¯}}) is sometimes used for negative constants, as in [[#ed|elementary education]], the programming language [[APL (programming language)|APL]], and some early  graphing calculators.{{efn|at least the early [[Texas Instruments]] models, including the [[TI-81]] and [[TI-82]]}}

All three uses can be referred to as "minus" in everyday speech, though the binary operator is sometimes read as "take away".<ref>{{Cite web|title=Subtraction|url=https://www.mathsisfun.com/numbers/subtraction.html|access-date=2020-08-26|website=www.mathsisfun.com|archive-date=2020-08-12|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200812221028/https://mathsisfun.com/numbers/subtraction.html|url-status=live}}</ref> In American English nowadays, −5 (for example) is generally referred to as "negative five" though speakers born before 1950 often refer to it as "minus five". (Temperatures tend to follow the older usage; −5° is generally called "minus five degrees".)<ref>{{Cite book|title=The words of mathematics |url=https://archive.org/details/wordsmathematics00schw_590 |url-access=limited |first=Steven |last=Schwartzman |year=1994 |publisher=The Mathematical Association of America |page=[https://archive.org/details/wordsmathematics00schw_590/page/n142 136]|isbn=9780883855119 }}</ref> Further, a few textbooks in the United States encourage {{math|−''x''}} to be read as "the opposite of {{math|''x''}}" or "the additive inverse of {{math|''x''}}"—to avoid giving the impression that {{math|−''x''}} is necessarily negative (since {{math|''x''}} itself may already be negative).<ref>{{Cite book|title=Modern Mathematics |first=Ruric E. |last=Wheeler |year=2001 |edition=11 |pages=171}}</ref>

In mathematics and most programming languages, the rules for the [[order of operations]] mean that {{math|−5<sup>2</sup>}} is equal to {{math|−25}}: [[Exponentiation]] binds more strongly than the unary minus, which binds more strongly than multiplication or division. However, in some programming languages ([[Microsoft Excel]] in particular), unary operators bind strongest, so in those cases {{code|−5^2}} is 25, but {{code|0−5^2}} is −25.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/excel/HP100788861033.aspx |title=Microsoft Office Excel Calculation operators and precedence |access-date=2009-07-29 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090811090433/http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/excel/HP100788861033.aspx |archive-date=2009-08-11 }}</ref>

Similar to the plus sign, the minus sign is also used in [[chemistry]] and [[physics]]. For more, see {{Section link||Other uses}} below.

== Use in elementary education {{anchor|ed}}==

Some elementary teachers use raised minus signs before numbers to disambiguate them from the operation of subtraction.<ref>{{cite journal
 | last1 = Gaskill | first1 = H.S.
 | last2 = Lopez | first2 = Robert J.
 | date = May 1978
 | doi = 10.1080/0020739780090211
 | issue = 2
 | journal = International Journal of Mathematical Education in Science and Technology
 | pages = 221–229
 | title = Let's bring back subtraction
 | volume = 9}}</ref> The same convention is also used in some computer languages. For example, subtracting −5 from 3 might be read as "positive three take away negative 5", and be shown as

:{{math|3 − <sup>−</sup>5}} becomes {{math|1=3 + 5 = 8}},
which can be read as:
:{{math|<sup>+</sup>3 −1 (<sup>−</sup>5}})
or even as
:{{math|<sup>+</sup>3 − <sup>−</sup>5}} becomes {{math|1=<sup>+</sup>3 + <sup>+</sup>5 = <sup>+</sup>8}}.

== Use as a qualifier ==

When placed after a number, a plus sign can indicate an open range of numbers. For example, "18+" is commonly used as shorthand for "ages 18 and up".

In US grading systems, the plus sign indicates a grade one level higher and the minus sign a grade lower. For example, {{char|B−}} ("B minus") is one grade lower than {{char|B}}. In some occasions, this is extended to two plus or minus signs (e.g., {{char|A++}} being two grades higher than {{char|A}}).

A common trend in branding, particularly with streaming video services, has been the use of the plus sign at the end of brand names, e.g. [[Google+]], [[Disney+]], [[Paramount+]] and [[Apple TV+]]. Since the word "plus" can mean an advantage, or an additional amount of something, such "+" signs imply that a product offers extra features or benefits.

Positive and negative are sometimes abbreviated as {{char|+ve}} and {{char|−ve}}.<ref>{{cite book|title=Oxford Handbook of Adult Nursing|first1=George|last1=Castledine|first2=Ann|last2=Close|publisher=Oxford University Press|year=2009|isbn=9780191039676|page=xvii|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=R6icAwAAQBAJ&pg=PR17}}.</ref>

===Mathematics===
In mathematics the [[one-sided limit]] {{math|''x'' → ''a''<sup>+</sup>}} means {{math|''x''}} approaches {{math|''a''}} from the right (i.e., right-sided limit), and {{math|''x'' → ''a''<sup>−</sup>}} means {{math|''x''}} approaches {{math|''a''}} from the left (i.e., left-sided limit). For example, {{math|1/''x'' → +<math>\infty</math>}} as {{math|''x'' → 0<sup>+</sup>}} but {{math|1/''x'' → −<math>\infty</math>}} as {{math|''x'' → 0<sup>−</sup>}}.

===Blood===
[[Blood types]] are often qualified with a plus or minus to indicate the presence or absence of the [[Rh factor]]. For example, A+ means [[ABO blood group system|type A blood]] with the Rh factor present, while B− means type B blood with the Rh factor absent.

===Music===
In music, [[Augmented triad#Augmented chord table|augmented chord]]s are symbolized with a plus sign, although this practice is not universal (as there are other methods for spelling those chords). For example, "C+" is read "C augmented chord". Sometimes the plus is written as a [[superscript]].

== Uses in computing ==

As well as the normal mathematical usage, plus and minus signs may be used for a number of other purposes in computing.

Plus and minus signs are often used in [[tree view]] on a computer screen—to show if a folder is collapsed or not.

In some programming languages, [[concatenation]] of [[string (computer science)|string]]s is written {{code|"a" + "b"}}, and results in {{code|"ab"}}.

In most programming languages, subtraction and negation are indicated with the ASCII [[hyphen-minus]] character, {{code|-}}. In [[APL (programming language)|APL]] a raised minus sign (here written using Unicode U+00AF MACRON) is used to denote a negative number, as in {{code|¯3}}. While in [[J (programming language)|J]] a negative number is denoted by an [[underscore]], as in {{code|_5}}.

In [[C (programming language)|C]] and some other computer programming languages, two plus signs indicate the [[increment operator]] and two minus signs a decrement; the position of the operator before or after the variable indicates whether the new or old value is read from it. For example, if x equals 6, then {{code|1=y = x++}} increments x to 7 but sets y to 6, whereas {{code|1=y = ++x}} would set both x and y to 7. By extension, {{code|++}} is sometimes used in computing terminology to signify an improvement, as in the name of the language [[C++]].

In [[regular expression]]s, {{code|+}} is often used to indicate "1 or more" in a pattern to be matched. For example, {{code|x+}} means "one or more of the letter x". This is the [[Kleene star#Kleene plus|Kleene plus]] notation.

There is no concept of negative zero in mathematics, but in computing [[−0 (number)|−0]] may have a separate representation from zero. In the [[IEEE floating-point standard]], 1&nbsp;/&nbsp;−0 is [[negative infinity]] (<math>-\infty</math>) whereas 1&nbsp;/&nbsp;0 is [[Infinity|positive infinity]] ([[∞|<math>\infty</math>]]).

{{code|+}} is also used to denote added lines in [[diff|{{code|diff}}]] output in the {{pslink|diff|context format}} or the {{pslink|diff|unified format}}.

== Other uses ==

In physics, the use of plus and minus signs for different [[electrical charge]]s was introduced by [[Georg Christoph Lichtenberg]].

In chemistry, superscripted plus and minus signs are used to indicate an ion with a positive or negative charge of 1 (e.g., NH{{subsup||4|+}}). If the charge is greater than 1, a number indicating the charge is written before the sign (as in SO{{subsup||4|2−}}).

A plus sign prefixed to a telephone number is used to indicate the form used for [[International Direct Dialing]].<ref>{{cite web |publisher=[[International Telecommunication Union]] |url=https://www.itu.int/rec/dologin_pub.asp?lang=e&id=T-REC-E.123-200102-I!!PDF-E&type=items |title=Recommendation E.123: Notation for national and international telephone numbers, e-mail addresses and Web addresses |year=2001 |access-date=2021-03-18 |archive-date=2021-05-05 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210505171816/https://www.itu.int/rec/dologin_pub.asp?lang=e&id=T-REC-E.123-200102-I!!PDF-E&type=items |url-status=live }}</ref> Its precise usage varies by technology and national standards.
In the [[International Phonetic Alphabet]], [[subscript]]ed plus and minus signs are used as diacritics to indicate [[Relative articulation|advanced or retracted articulations]] of speech sounds.

The minus sign is also used as tone letter in the orthographies of [[Dan language|Dan]], [[Krumen language|Krumen]], [[Karaboro languages|Karaboro]], [[Mwan language|Mwan]], [[Wan language|Wan]], [[Yaouré]], [[Wè language|Wè]], [[Nyabwa language|Nyabwa]] and [[Godie language|Godié]].<ref>Hartell, Rhonda L., ed. (1993), ''The Alphabets of Africa''. Dakar: UNESCO and SIL.</ref> The Unicode character used for the tone letter (U+02D7) is different from the mathematical minus sign.

The plus sign sometimes represents {{IPAslink|ɨ}} in the orthography of [[Huichol language#Orthography|Huichol]].<ref>{{cite thesis |url=http://web.fscj.edu/brad.biglow/2001dissertationmaster%28encrypted%29.pdf#page=284 |type=PhD |title=Ethno-Nationalist Politics and Cultural Preservation: Education and Bordered Identities Among the Wixaritari (Huichol) of Tateikita, Jalisco, Mexico |last=Biglow |first=Brad Morris |publisher=University of Florida |date=2001 |page=284 |access-date=2021-05-29 |archive-date=2021-06-02 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210602214404/http://web.fscj.edu/brad.biglow/2001dissertationmaster(encrypted).pdf#page=284 |url-status=live }}</ref>

In the [[Algebraic notation (chess)|algebraic notation]] used to record games of [[chess]], the plus sign {{char|+}} is used to denote a move that puts the opponent into [[Check (chess)|check]], while a double plus {{char|++}} is sometimes used to denote [[double check]]. Combinations of the plus and minus signs are used to evaluate a move (+/&minus;, +/=, =/+, &minus;/+).

In linguistics, a superscript plus {{char|<sup>+</sup>}} sometimes replaces the [[asterisk]], which denotes unattested [[linguistic reconstruction]].

In [[botanical name]]s, a plus sign denotes [[graft-chimaera]].

In Catholicism, the plus sign before a last name denotes a [[Bishops in the Catholic Church|Bishop]], and a double plus is used to denote an Archbishop.

== Character codes ==
{{infobox symbol
| mark = - + −
|name = hyphen-minus, plus, minus signs compared
}}
* {{unichar|002B}}
* {{unichar|2212}}
* {{unichar|002D}}
* {{unichar|FE63}}
* {{unichar|FE62}}
* {{unichar|FF0B}}
* {{unichar|FF0D}}

==Alternative minus signs==
[[File:Skjermbilete 2012-11-03 kl. 02.48.36.png|thumb|"÷" being used as a minus sign (not as a division sign) in an excerpt from an official Norwegian trading statement form called «Næringsoppgave 1» for the taxation year 2010]]
There is a [[commercial minus sign]], {{char|⁒}}, which is used in Germany and Scandinavia. The symbol {{char|÷}} [[Obelus#In mathematics|is used to denote subtraction]] in [[Scandinavia]].<ref>{{cite book | url = https://www.unicode.org/versions/Unicode10.0.0/ch06.pdf#G7935 | page = 280, Obelus | chapter = 6. Writing Systems and Punctuation | publisher = Unicode Consortium | title = The Unicode Standard: Version 10.0 – Core Specification | date = June 2017 | access-date = 2022-04-11 | archive-date = 2021-10-04 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20211004201415/https://www.unicode.org/versions/Unicode10.0.0/ch06.pdf#G7935 | url-status = live }}</ref>

The [[hyphen-minus]] symbol ({{char|-}}) is the form of [[hyphen]] most commonly used in digital [[document]]s. On most keyboards, it is the only character that resembles a [[minus sign]] or a [[dash]] so it is also used for these.<ref>{{cite book |title=Unicode explained |first=Jukka K. |last=Korpela |publisher=O'Reilly |year=2006 |isbn=978-0-596-10121-3 |page=382}}</ref> The name ''hyphen-minus'' derives from the original [[ASCII]] standard,<ref>{{cite book |title=Unicode Version 1.0 · Character Blocks |page=30 |chapter-url=https://www.unicode.org/versions/Unicode1.0.0/ch03_1.pdf |chapter=3.1 General scripts |quote='''Loose vs. Precise Semantics.''' Some ASCII characters have multiple uses, either through ambiguity in the original standards or through accumulated reinterpretations of a limited codeset. For example, 27 hex is defined in ANSI X3.4 as apostrophe (closing single quotation mark; acute accent), and 2D hex as hyphen minus. In general, the Unicode standard provides the same interpretation for the equivalent code values, without adding to or subtracting from their semantics. The Unicode standard supplies unambiguous codes elsewhere for the most useful particular interpretations of these ASCII values; the corresponding unambiguous characters are cross-referenced in the character names list for this block. In a few cases, the Unicode standard indicates the generic interpretation of an ASCII code in the name of the corresponding Unicode character, for example U+0027 is APOSTROPHE-QUOTE'. |access-date=10 December 2021 |archive-date=21 November 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211121032137/http://www.unicode.org/versions/Unicode1.0.0/ch03_1.pdf |url-status=live }}</ref> where it was called ''hyphen–(minus)''.<ref>{{cite web |title=American National Standard X3.4-1977: American Standard Code for Information Interchange |page=10 (4.2 Graphic characters) |url=https://nvlpubs.nist.gov/nistpubs/Legacy/FIPS/fipspub1-2-1977.pdf |publisher=National Institute of Standards and Technology |access-date=10 December 2021 |archive-date=9 October 2022 |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20221009/https://nvlpubs.nist.gov/nistpubs/Legacy/FIPS/fipspub1-2-1977.pdf |url-status=live }}</ref> The character is referred to as a ''hyphen'', a ''minus sign'', or a ''dash'' according to the context where it is being used.

== Alternative plus sign ==
{{See also|Up tack}}
<div style="float:right; margin: 0 0 10px 10px; padding:40px; font-size:100%; font-family: Georgia; background-color: #ddddff; border: 1px solid #aaaaff;">[[File:U+FB29.svg|frameless|upright=0.5]]</div>
A [[Jew]]ish tradition that dates from at least the 19th century is to write ''plus'' using the symbol {{char|﬩}}.<ref name=JE>{{cite book|author=Kaufmann Kohler|editor=Cyrus Adler|editor-link=Cyrus Adler|display-editors=etal|title=Jewish Encyclopedia|chapter=Cross|year=1901–1906|chapter-url=http://www.jewishencyclopedia.com/articles/4776-cross|access-date=2017-02-12|archive-date=2017-01-06|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170106145502/http://www.jewishencyclopedia.com/articles/4776-cross|url-status=live}}</ref> This practice was adopted into [[Israel]]i schools and is still commonplace today in [[elementary school]]s (including [[secular]] schools) but in fewer [[secondary school]]s.<ref name="University of California">[https://books.google.com/books?id=m8sWAAAAIAAJ&q=%22plus+sign+used+in+mathematics%22 Christian-Jewish Dialogue: Theological Foundations By Peter von der Osten-Sacken (1986 – Fortress Press)] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230408085831/https://books.google.com/books?id=m8sWAAAAIAAJ&q=%22plus+sign+used+in+mathematics%22 |date=2023-04-08 }} {{ISBN|0-8006-0771-6}} "In Israel the plus sign used in mathematics is represented by a horizontal stroke with a vertical hook instead of the sign otherwise used all over the world, because the latter is reminiscent of a cross." (Page 96)</ref> It is also used occasionally in books by religious authors, but most books for adults use the international symbol {{char|+}}. The reason for this practice is that it avoids the writing of a symbol {{char|+}} that looks like a [[Christian cross]].<ref name=JE/><ref name="University of California"/> [[Unicode]] has this symbol at position {{Unichar|FB29|HEBREW LETTER ALTERNATIVE PLUS SIGN}}.<ref>[http://www.decodeunicode.org/U+FB29 Unicode U+FB29 reference page] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090126222937/http://www.decodeunicode.org/U+FB29 |date=2009-01-26 }} This form of the plus sign is also used on the control buttons at individual seats on board the El Al Israel Airlines aircraft.</ref>

== See also ==
* [[En dash]], a dash that looks similar to the subtraction symbol but is used for different purposes
* [[Glossary of mathematical symbols]]
* [[⊕ (disambiguation)]]

== Notes ==
{{Notelist}}

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

== External links ==
*{{Wiktionary-inline|plus sign}}
*{{Wiktionary-inline|minus sign}}

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{{DEFAULTSORT:Plus and minus signs}}
[[Category:Elementary arithmetic]]
[[Category:Mathematical symbols]]
[[Category:Addition]]
[[Category:Subtraction]]
[[Category:Sign (mathematics)]]

[[de:Vorzeichen (Zahl)#Plus- und Minuszeichen]]