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In mathematics, a negative number is the opposite of a positive real number. [1] Equivalently, a negative number is a real number that is less than zero. Negative numbers are often used to represent the magnitude of a loss or deficiency. A debt that is owed may be thought of as a negative asset.
Historically the term was used for a number that was a multiple of 1, [10] [11] or to the whole part of a mixed number. [12] [13] Only positive integers were considered, making the term synonymous with the natural numbers. The definition of integer expanded over time to include negative numbers as their usefulness was recognized. [14]
Negative numbers: Real numbers that are less than zero. Because zero itself has no sign, neither the positive numbers nor the negative numbers include zero. When zero is a possibility, the following terms are often used: Non-negative numbers: Real numbers that are greater than or equal to zero. Thus a non-negative number is either zero or positive.
A number is non-negative if it is greater than or equal to zero. A number is non-positive if it is less than or equal to zero. When 0 is said to be both positive and negative, [citation needed] modified phrases are used to refer to the sign of a number: A number is strictly positive if it is greater than zero. A number is strictly negative if ...
Converting a number from scientific notation to decimal notation, first remove the × 10 n on the end, then shift the decimal separator n digits to the right (positive n) or left (negative n). The number 1.2304 × 10 6 would have its decimal separator shifted 6 digits to the right and become 1,230,400, while −4.0321 × 10 −3 would have its ...
These schemes support very large numbers; for example one kilobyte of memory could be used to store numbers up to 2466 decimal digits long. A Boolean or Flag type is a type that can represent only two values: 0 and 1, usually identified with false and true respectively. This type can be stored in memory using a single bit, but is often given a ...
For instance, to make it possible to subtract any whole number from another, the realm of numbers must be expanded to the entire set of integers in order to incorporate the negative integers. Similarly, to support division of any integer by any other, the realm of numbers must expand to the rational numbers .
The first European-made pocket-sized calculator, DB 800 [43] [44] was made in May 1971 by Digitron in Buje, Croatia (former Yugoslavia) with four functions and an eight-digit display and special characters for a negative number and a warning that the calculation has too many digits to display.