<doc>

<legacy_id>1601</legacy_id>

<name>-</name>

<type>operator</type>

<syntax>

<example><i>firstNumber</i> - <i>secondNumber</i></example>

<example><i>numberArray</i> - {<i>number</i> | <i>array</i>}</example>

<example><i>-negativeNumber</i></example>

</syntax>

<library></library>

<objects>

</objects>

<synonyms>

</synonyms>

<classification>

<category>Math, Logic, &amp; Dates</category>

</classification>

<references>

<operator tag="()">() Operator</operator>

<command tag="subtract">subtract Command</command>

<keyword tag="--">-- Keyword</keyword>

<operator tag="+">+ Operator</operator>

</references>

<history>

<introduced version="1.0">Added.</introduced>

<changed version="1.1"></changed>

</history>

<platforms>

<mac/>

<windows/>

<linux/>

<ios/>

<android/>

</platforms>

<classes>

<desktop/>

<server/>

<web/>

<mobile/>

</classes>

<security>

</security>

<summary>Subtracts one number from another, or designates a number as <glossary tag="negative">negative</glossary>.</summary>

<examples>

<example>put -24 into myContainer</example>

<example>put theRight - theLeft into theWidth</example>

<example>put myArray - 17 into adjustedValues</example>

</examples>

<description>

<p>The <b>-</b> (minus) <glossary tag="operator">operator</glossary> serves two purposes. When it has a single <glossary tag="operand">operand</glossary> (<glossary tag="unary">unary</glossary> minus), it negates that number. When it has two <glossary tag="operand">operands</glossary> (<glossary tag="binary">binary</glossary> minus), it subtracts the second number from the first number.</p><p/><p><b>Parameters:</b></p><p>The operands <i>firstNumber</i> and <i>secondNumber</i> are numbers, or <glossary tag="expression">expressions</glossary> that <glossary tag="evaluate">evaluate</glossary> to numbers, or <glossary tag="array">arrays</glossary> containing numbers.</p><p/><p><b>Comments:</b></p><p>To subtract a number from the contents of a container, use the <b>subtract</b> <glossary tag="command">command</glossary>.</p><p/><p>You cannot use the unary minus twice in a row. The expression</p><p> - - someNumber</p><p>causes an error, and the expression</p><p> -- someNumber</p><p>is interpreted as a comment because it starts with the comment keyword <b>--</b>.</p><p/><p>If <i>firstNumber</i> or <i>secondNumber</i> is an <glossary tag="array">array</glossary>, each of the <glossary tag="array">array</glossary> <glossary tag="element">elements</glossary> must be a number. If a number is subtracted from an <glossary tag="array">array</glossary>, the number is subtracted from each <keyword tag="element">element</keyword>. If an <glossary tag="array">array</glossary> is subtracted from an <glossary tag="array">array</glossary>, both <glossary tag="array">arrays</glossary> must have the same number of <glossary tag="element">elements</glossary> and the same dimension, and each <keyword tag="element">element</keyword> in one <glossary tag="array">array</glossary> is subtracted from the corresponding <keyword tag="element">element</keyword> of the other <glossary tag="array">array</glossary>.</p><p/><p>If an element of an array is empty, the <b>-</b> <glossary tag="operator">operator</glossary> treats its contents as zero.</p><p/><p>The unary minus cannot be used with an array.</p><p/><p><b>Changes:</b></p><p>The option to subtract arrays was introduced in version 1.1. In previous versions, only single numbers could be used with the <b>-</b> <glossary tag="operator">operator</glossary>.</p>

</description>

</doc>