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Because "minus" is the boolean subtraction operator not the unary negation operator despite a lot of colloquial misuse by native speakers. The distinction is u
by RhysU 4y ago
Because "minus" is the boolean subtraction operator not the unary negation operator despite a lot of colloquial misuse by native speakers.
The distinction is useful when reading aloud expressions like 3-(-2) as "three minus negative two".
- osrec 4y agoPerhaps, but "negative one" would sound a little odd to lot of people from certain countries, including the UK, where "minus one" is the standard way of referring to a negative number. We would be perfectly okay with hearing "three minus minus two" in mathematical context.