Sign (mathematics)

In mathematics, the word sign refers to the property of being positive or negative. Every real number that is non-zero is either positive or negative, and therefore has a sign. Zero itself is without a sign, or signless. In addition to putting signs into real numbers, the word sign is used throughout mathematics to indicate parts of mathematical objects that mean positivity and negativity. Usually, if numbers are seen without a sign, they are seen as a positive number. Otherwise, a minus sign "${\displaystyle -}$" is appended before the number to indicate that the number is a negative of another number.^[1][2]

The word sign is also sometimes used to refer to various mathematical signs, such as the plus and minus signs and the multiplication sign.

1. ↑ "List of Arithmetic and Common Math Symbols". Math Vault. 2020-03-17. Retrieved 2020-08-26.
2. ↑ "Adding and Subtracting Positive and Negative Numbers". www.mathsisfun.com. Retrieved 2020-08-26.