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Mathematics vocabulary · Numbers and Operations

Difference

Meaning in mathematics, with examples

/ˈdɪfərəns/nounCore term

In mathematics, difference means: The result of subtracting one number from another; for example, the difference between 10 and 4 is 6.

In Turkish: fark

How it is used

Used in arithmetic, algebra and word problems: 'the difference between two numbers', 'the difference of two squares'. When the order matters, textbooks usually subtract the second number from the first, or say 'the positive difference'.

Example sentences

  1. The difference between their ages is twelve years.

  2. Factorise x² − 9 using the difference of two squares.

Common collocations

  • the difference between
  • difference of two squares
  • find the difference
  • common difference
  • sumThe result you get when you add two or more numbers together; for example, the sum of 4 and 6 is 10.
  • productThe result you get when you multiply numbers or expressions together; for example, the product of 3 and 5 is 15.
  • quotientThe result of dividing one number by another; for example, when 20 is divided by 4, the quotient is 5.
  • factorA number or expression that divides another exactly, with no remainder; the factors of 12 are 1, 2, 3, 4, 6 and 12.

More terms: Numbers and Operations

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