The plus and minus signs (+ and −) are used universally to represent the notions of positive and negative as well as the operations of addition and subtraction. Their use has been extended to many other meanings, more or less analogous. Plus and minus are Latin terms.

History

---

Though the signs now seem as familiar as the alphabet or the Hindu-Arabic numerals, they are not of great antiquity. The Egyptian hieroglyphic sign for addition, for example, resembled a pair of legs walking in the direction in which the text was written (Egyptian was written in varying directions), with the reverse sign indicating subtraction:

D54- or -D55

In Europe in the early 15th century the letters P and M were generally used.

The earliest print appearance of the modern signs seems to come from a book on "Behende und hüpscheenung auff allen Kauffmanschafft" or Mercantile Arithmetic by Johannes Widmann in 1489, used to indicate surpluses and deficits. The + is a simplification of the Latin "et" (comparable to the ampersand &). The − may be derived from a tilde written over m when used to indicate subtraction; or it may come from a shorthand version of the letter m itself.

More on [ Plus and minus signs ]

NYT > Bridge (Card Game)

Remembering a Gentleman of the Game and His Sly Deception
By PHILLIP ALDER Sat, 04 Jul 2009 00:00:00 -0400
Bridge lost one of its true gentlemen when Richard Freeman died on Monday evening in Atlanta from complications of pancreatitis. He was 75.
In San Remo, Coming From Behind in Open Pairs
By PHILLIP ALDER Thu, 02 Jul 2009 00:00:00 -0400
The last three major titles at the fourth European Open Championships in San Remo, Italy, were decided on Saturday.
Double Makes the Difference at a European Tournament
By PHILLIP ALDER Mon, 29 Jun 2009 00:00:00 -0400
The 48-board open team final at the fourth European Open Championships in San Remo, Italy, was between Herbst from Israel (Michael Barel, Yaniv Zack and the brothers Ilan and Ophir Herbst) and Netherlands White (Sjoert Brink, Bas Drijver, Bauke Muller and Simon de Wijs).
Two Boards Set the Course of a Match
By PHILLIP ALDER Sat, 27 Jun 2009 00:00:00 -0400
The three 48-board team finals at the fourth European Open Championships in San Remo, Italy, ended on Wednesday.
From a European Tournament, a Lesson in When to Sacrifice
By PHILLIP ALDER Thu, 25 Jun 2009 00:00:00 -0400
The fourth European Open Championships end in San Remo, Italy, on Saturday.
A Short Course in How to Execute a Squeeze
By PHILLIP ALDER Mon, 22 Jun 2009 00:00:00 -0400
The fourth European Open Championships are taking place in San Remo, Italy.

BridgeHands - Contract and Duplicate Bridge

#1 BridgeHands, 06-09-21, 32m, Phone/VMAIL/EMAIL: 707-769-4499 707-780-3052 support@BridgeHands.com
Sat, 23 Sep 2006 06:30:00 -0000

#2 BridgeHands, 06-10-18, 39m, 707-769-4499, Fax/VMAIL 707-780-3052
Mon, 16 Oct 2006 05:00:00 -0000
BridgeHands Interview - Eddie Kantar: Conventions, Early Days, Bridge Opens Doors, The Author, Slam Bidding, website, Teaching Evolution. Attribution Non-commercial No Derivatives (by-nc-nd)
#3 BridgeHands, 06-11-03, 52m, 707-769-4499, Fax/VMAIL 707-780-3052
Fri, 03 Nov 2006 23:00:00 -0000
BridgeHands Interview - Eddie Kantar, part 2: Pros and Clients, Being a Good Partner, Adventurous Marshall Miles, Books large/small/coauthoring, Computer Training, Bidding Evolution, Money Bridge, Online Bridge, Loving Yvonne. Attribution Non-commercial No Derivatives (by-nc-nd)
#4 BridgeHands, 06-11-14, 47m, 707-769-4499, Fax/VMAIL 707-780-3052 support@BridgeHands.com
Tue, 14 Nov 2006 13:00:00 -0000
BridgeHands Interview - Jude Goodwin: www.GreatBridgeLinks.com and www.GiftsForCardPlayers.com as well as her book: "Go Ahead, Laugh!" Attribution Non-commercial No Derivatives (by-nc-nd)
#5 BridgeHands, 07-03-28, 42m, 707-769-4499, Fax/VMAIL 707-780-3052 support@BridgeHands.com
Wed, 28 Mar 2007 19:00:00 -0000
BridgeHands Interview - Gerry Fox, Bridge Cruise super-agent, author, and master teacher. Attribution Non-commercial No Derivatives (by-nc-nd)
#6 BridgeHands, 07-04-16, 38m, 707-769-4499, Fax/VMAIL 707-780-3052 support@BridgeHands.com
Mon, 16 Apr 2007 23:58:00 -0000
BridgeHands Interview - Gerry Fox Part 2, Bridge Cruise super-agent, author, and master teacher. Attribution Non-commercial No Derivatives (by-nc-nd)

Subscribe to Card_Games RSS feed