Subtraction 

Subtraction is an arithmetic operation that represents the operation of removing objects from a collection. Subtraction is signified by the minus sign, −. For example, in the adjacent picture, there are 5 − 2 peaches—meaning 5 peaches with 2 taken away, resulting in a total of 3 peaches.

I love Subtraction

Subtraction by Α January 13, 2022

subtraction gardening 

Letting all of the weeds grow in your backyard and then pulling out the ones that don't make pretty flowers.

neighbor: Hey your yard looks great, but aren't those the same weeds that are in every abandoned back lot here in Detroit?
me: yep. It's called subtraction gardening.

subtraction gardening by nageuse July 22, 2012

Subtraction Rule 

If you'd calculate for example 3 x 3 it would be 8 instead of 9 because of the fact that you subtract one from the original answer.

Smegma är efterbliven aka Subtraction Rule

Subtraction Rule by Inte Jesper April 6, 2022

Addition by subtraction 

When one person in the group leaves and the group as a whole becomes better

Kyle- "Finally Jimmy left"
Leo- "Jimmy was so ugly and drunk. Now all the ladies will come to us"
Steve- "Yeah, it's definitely addition by subtraction"

Addition by subtraction by Skeet Master Steve June 21, 2009

The subtraction 

Also referred to as "Teh Subtraction"<br>The person of your desire's/The addition's current significant other. Called the subtraction because you think they have a negative impact on your life, not to mention they are totally wrong for your love interest.

Mandi: "OMG The subtraction should die."<br>Me: "I know."

The subtraction by Heather (Ya Know) December 26, 2007

audition and subtraction

What happens when a new movie is being planned --- lots of "hopefuls" go in to try out for various part, but most of them get "taken away" (i.e., rejected) from the pool of possible prospects.

I like watching the "making of" bonus-material in DVDs of famous films... lots of interesting and informative material there. So often, the producers speak about how difficult the process of audition and subtraction was: "There was a lot of really awesome talent that we had to choose from , so it always really hurt us to apologetically tell some of the application that --- while they were indeed very good at what they did --- they just weren't quite what we were looking for in this particular movie.

audition and subtraction by QuacksO April 27, 2019

Addition by subtraction 

The phenomenon where a group of four or more people will raise their productivity in the event the least productive person is removed.

Me: “Have you seen Sam lately? We are finally making progress on our project & he is nowhere to be found?”
Boss: “Sam got canned yesterday. I walked him out personally. Sam was fired.”
Me: “Okay, yet another example of addition by subtraction”

Addition by subtraction by WeAreUFC October 10, 2025