What is Minuend? - Definition, Facts & Example

What is Minuend?

The number in a subtraction sentence from which we subtract another number is called a minuend.

A subtraction sentence consists of 3 numbers:

Minuend is the first number in a subtraction sentence. We subtract subtrahend from the minuend to get the difference.

In vertical method of subtraction or column method, the minuend is the number on the top.

vertical method of subtraction or column method

In the column method of subtraction, we regroup the numbers if the minuend is smaller than the subtrahend, that is, the number we want to subtract is higher than the number from which it is subtracted. In such a case, we borrow 1 from the next higher place to regroup the numbers. It makes the value of minuend higher than the subtrahend and makes it possible to subtract the subtrahend from the minuend.

column method of subtraction

Here, 5 cannot be subtracted from 3. So, 1 ten is borrowed from the tens place. This changes the minuend from 3 to 13. Now, 5 can be easily subtracted from 13 to get 8.

Fun Facts

The word “minuend” originates from the Latin word “minuendus”, which means something that will decrease.
In a subtraction sentence, the value of the minuend is equal to the sum of the subtrahend and the difference. For example, if _____ – 7 = 28; then the minuend is 28 + 7 = 35.

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