When a number is expressed by subtraction, or when a subtraction occurs as a constituent of a complex expression, the subtrahend is never larger than the remainder.
Standardized
IF a number is expressed by subtraction, or a subtraction occurs as a constituent of a complex expression, THEN the subtrahend is never larger than the remainder.
1. The subtrahend is the number subtracted, the minuend the number from which subtraction takes place, and the remainder is the result.2. This generalization would be violated if a language expressed 2 as 10-8, since the subtrahend 8 is larger than the remainder 2. It would not be violated, however, if 8 was expressed as 10-2, which in fact is found quite often.
1. The subtrahend is the number subtracted, the minuend the number from which subtraction takes place, and the remainder is the result.2. This generalization would be violated if a language expressed 2 as 10-8, since the subtrahend 8 is larger than the remainder 2. It would not be violated, however, if 8 was expressed as 10-2, which in fact is found quite often.