The plus and minus signs (+ and −) are mathematical symbols used 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 meaning "more" and "less", respectively.

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 could be written either from right to left or left to right), with the reverse sign indicating subtraction: {| align="center" |D54- or -D55 |}

In Europe in the early 15th century the letters "P" and "M" were generally used. The symbols (P with stroke for piu, i.e., plus, and M with stroke for meno, i.e., minus) appeared for the first time in Luca Pacioli’s mathematics compendium, Summa de arithmetica, geometria, proportioni et proportionalità, first printed and published in Venice in 1494. 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. In his 1489 treatise Johannes Widmann referred to the symbols − and + as minus and mer (Modern German mehr; "more"): "das − ist, das ist minus, und das + ist das mer".

A book published by Henricus Grammateus in 1518 makes another early use of + and − for addition and subtraction.

Robert Recorde, the designer of the equals sign, introduced plus and minus to Britain in 1557 in The Whetstone of Witte: "There be other 2 signes in often use of which the first is made thus + and betokeneth more: the other is thus made – and betokeneth lesse."

Plus sign

The plus sign is a binary operator that indicates addition, as in 2 + 3 = 5. It can also serve as a unary operator that leaves its operand unchanged (+x means the same as x). This notation may be used when it is desired to emphasise the positiveness of a number, especially when contrasting with the negative (+5 versus −5).

The plus sign can also indicate many other operations, depending on the mathematical system under consideration. Many algebraic structures have some operation which is called, or equivalent to, addition. Moreover, the symbolism has been extended to very different operations. Plus can mean:

exclusive or (usually written ⊕): 1 + 1 = 0, 1 + 0 = 1

logical disjunction (usually written ∨): 1 + 1 = 1, 1 + 0 = 1

Minus sign

The minus sign has three main uses in mathematics:

#The subtraction operator: A binary operator to indicate the operation of subtraction, as in 5 − 3 = 2. Subtraction is the inverse of addition. #Directly in front of a number and when it is not a subtraction operator it means a negative number. For instance −5 is minus 5. #A unary operator that acts as an instruction to replace the operand by its opposite. For example, if x is 3, then −x is −3, but if x is −3, then −x is 3. Similarly, −(−2) is equal to 2.

All three uses can be referred to as "minus" in everyday speech. In modern US usage, −5 (for example) is normally pronounced "negative five" rather than "minus five". "minus" may be used by speakers born before 1950, and is still popular in some contexts, but "negative" is usually taught as the only correct reading. In most other parts of the English-speaking world, "minus five" is more common. Textbooks in America encourage −x to be read as "the opposite of x" or even "the additive inverse of x" to avoid giving the impression that −x is necessarily negative.

In some contexts, different glyphs are used for these meanings; for instance in the computer language APL a raised minus sign is used in negative numbers (as in 2 − 5 gives ⁻3), but such usage is rare.

In mathematics and most programming languages, the rules for the order of operations mean that −5² is equal to −25. Powers bind more strongly than multiplication or division which binds more strongly than addition or subtraction. While strictly speaking, the unary minus is not subtraction, it is given the same place as subtraction. However in some programming languages and Excel in particular, unary operators bind strongest, so in these −5^2 is 25 but 0−5^2 is −25.

Use in elementary education

Some elementary teachers use raised plus and minus signs before numbers to show they are positive or negative numbers. For example subtracting −5 from 3 might be read as positive three take away negative 5 and be shown as

:3 − ⁻5 becomes 3 + 5 = 8, or even as :⁺3 − ⁻5 becomes ⁺3 + ⁺5 which is ⁺8

Use as a qualifier

In grading systems (such as examination marks), the plus sign indicates a grade one level higher and the minus sign a grade lower. For example, B− ("B minus") is one grade lower than B. Sometimes this is extended to two plus or minus signs; for example A++ is two grades higher than A.

Positive and negative are sometimes abbreviated as +ve and −ve.

In mathematics the one-sided limit x→a⁺ means x approaches a from the right, and x→a⁻ means x approaches a from the left. For example, when calculating what x⁻¹ is when x approaches 0, because x⁻¹→+∞ when x→0⁺ but x⁻¹→ −∞ when x→0⁻.

Uses in computing

As well as the normal mathematical usage plus and minus may be used for a number of other purposes in computing.

Plus and minus signs are often used in tree view on a computer screen to show if a folder is collapsed or not.

In some programming languages concatenation of strings is written: "a" + "b" = "ab", although this usage is questioned by some for violating commutativity, a property addition is expected to have.

In most programming languages, subtraction and negation are indicated with the ASCII hyphen-minus character, -. In APL a raised minus sign (Unicode U+00AF) is used to denote a negative number, as in ¯3) and in J a negative number is denoted by an underscore, as in _5.

In C and some other computer programming languages, two plus signs indicate the increment operator and two minus signs a decrement. For example, x++ means "increment the value of x by one" and x-- means "decrement the value of x by one". By extension, "++" is sometimes used in computing terminology to signify an improvement, as in the name of the language C++.

There is no concept of negative zero in mathematics, but in computing −0 may have a separate representation from zero. In the IEEE floating-point standard 1/−0 is negative infinity whereas 1/0 is positive infinity.

Other uses

In chemistry, the minus sign (rather than an en dash) is used for a single covalent bond between two atoms, in skeletal formula.

Subscripted plus and minus signs are used as diacritics in the International Phonetic Alphabet to indicate advanced or retracted articulations of speech sounds.

The minus sign is also used as tone letter in the orthographies of Dan, Krumen, Karaboro, Mwan, Wan, Yaouré, Wè, Nyabwa and Godié. The Unicode character used for the tone letter (U+02D7) is different from the mathematical minus sign.

Character codes

U+002B −-

Read !! Character !! Unicode !! ASCII !! Uniform Resource Locator	URL !! HTML (others)
Plus	+	|	+	%2B
Minus	|	U+2212		%E2%88%92	− or &x2212; or −
Hyphen-minus	|	U+002D	-	%2D

The Unicode minus sign is designed to be the same length and height as the plus and equals signs. In most fonts these are the same width as digits in order to facilitate the alignment of numbers in tables.

The hyphen-minus sign (-) is the ASCII version of the minus sign, and doubles as a hyphen. It is usually shorter in length than the plus sign and sometimes at a different height. It can be used as a substitute for the true minus sign when the character set is limited to ASCII.

There is a commercial minus sign (⁒), which looks somewhat like an obelus, at U+2052 (HTML &x2052;).

Alternative plus sign

A Jewish tradition that dates from at least the 19th century is to write plus using a symbol like an inverted T. This practice was adopted into Israeli schools (this practice goes back to at least the 1940s) and is still commonplace today in elementary schools (including secular schools) but in fewer secondary schools. It is also used occasionally in books by religious authors, but most books for adults use the international symbol "+". The usual explanation for this practice is that it avoids the writing of a symbol "+" that looks like a Christian cross. Unicode has this symbol at position U+FB29 "Hebrew letter alternative plus sign" ().

See also

Graft-chimaera for the meaning of + in botanical names

List of international call prefixes that + can represent the numbers required to dial out of a country as seen in a phone number

Plus-minus sign

Table of mathematical symbols

En dash, a dash that looks similar to the subtraction symbol but is used for a different purpose

References

External links

The History of Mathematical Symbols – Plus and Minus

Earliest uses of various mathematical symbols

Category:Elementary arithmetic Category:Mathematical symbols

ar:علامتا زائد وناقص ca:Signe matemàtic cs:Znaménka plus a minus de:Minus es:Signos más y menos fr:Signes plus et moins ko:더하기표와 빼기표 it:Più nl:Minteken ja:プラス記号とマイナス記号 no:Fortegn pl:Plus i minus pt:Sinais de mais e menos ru:Минус sk:Mínus sl:Plus fi:Etumerkki (matematiikka) sv:Plustecken tr:Artı ve eksi işaretleri yi:צוגאב און אראפנעם צייכנס zh:加号与减号

Name	Baja Mali Knindža
Background	solo_singer
Birth name	Mirko Pajčin
Birth date	October 13, 1966
Origin	Gubin, Livno, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Yugoslavia
Genre	Folk
Years active	1990 -
First album	Не дам Крајине/ I will never give up Krajina.
Latest album	За ким звона звоне/ For whom bells ring.
Notable albums	Живјеће овај народ/This nation will live
Notable songs	Божић је/Nativity of Our Lord
Associated acts	Braća sa Dinare
Website	www.vucjak.com www.knindza.info }}

Baja Mali Knindža (; born October 13, 1966 in Livno ), whose real name is Mirko Pajčin (Мирко Пајчин), is a Serbian folk singer and songwriter. He is often described as part of the turbo folk scene, and known for his ultra-nationalist lyrics. He is a cousin of murdered Serbian pop singer Ksenija Pajčin.

Biography

Baja was born on 13 October 1966 in the village of Gubin, near Livno, Bosnia and Herzegovina, then Yugoslavia. He wrote his first song while staying at the house of Momčilo Đujić at Krčič. The song is well known. It is called "Nema Raja, bez rodnoga kraja" (There is no paradise without the place you were born).

Baja Mali Knindža is not to be mistaken with Nedeljko Bajić Baja, who is a well known turbo folk singer. Baja Mali Knindža performs chetnik songs and odes to alcohol, such as "Duni, vjetre, malo preko jetre" (Blow, wind, through the liver). Baja is well known for his nationalist songs supporting the Serbs during the Yugoslav wars. He gained the sympathy of the Serbian people. His first hit was Bpaти се Војводо/Duke come back. In this song he appealed to Serbian hero and chetnik commander Fr. Momčilo Đujić, to came back to the areas of Krajina and help create Greater Serbia. He said that he would never consider going to Croatia because of the Ustashe burning down his house and desecrating his predecessors graves. Baja's performances in Zmijanje near Banja Luka, in the middle of August every year, attract tens of thousands of people. Since the fall of Krajina, Baja Mali Knindža has written many songs about his dream of the Serbian people returning to live in the territories re-controlled by Croats during the Serb exodus from Croatia. His songs also express his sorrow of living without his land. Many of the songs became instant hits, such as "Ne rodila ni njivo ni šljivo". Here is a sample of the lyrics from the song:

:Не родила ни ,њиво, ни ,шљиво, / Neither plums or fields have grown

:И све вам сe oсушило живо! / and everything dried up on you!

:Што садили, ништа не родило! / Whatever you plant, nothing has grown!

:Хеј , душмани, проклето вам било! / Oh, enemies, be cursed forever! He wrote songs for many traditional folk bands such as Jandrino Jato, Sinovi Manjače, Zvuci Tromeđe and Srpski Talibani. He is said to be a supporter of the Serb Radical Party but he did not promote them during elections. He has said that he would participate in governing the SRS.

Personal life

Baja lives with his wife, three daughters and son in Novi Beograd driving older Mitsubishi Pajero SUV. Besides his native language, he also speaks English and Russian. His Mother and Father live in a newly built house in Surčin.

Controversy

Baja Mali Knindža is controversial due to his nationalism. Many of his songs are condemned in Muslim parts of Bosnia and Croatia because he sings against their war leaders. For example, his song "Ne volim te Alija" describes his strong dislike for that time Bosnian war-time president Alija Izetbegović and includes the lyrics:

: Не волим те, Алија, / I don't like you Alija : Зато што си балија / Because you're a Balija (a term which Bosniaks consider insulting) : Срушио си миран сан / You broke a peaceful dream

In one song, he sings "Ћути, ћути, ујко, убићу те ја" / shut up, shut up ujko (nickname for Ustašas, Croatian fascists from Wоrld War II), I will kill you. He has also sung "Ја не волим људе те, који воле ХДЗ"—I don't like those people who like the HDZ (A right-wing Croatian political party), and included "Јебала их шаховница" "f*** their šahovica (šahovnica'' literally means chessboard, but in this context it refers to the coat-of-arms of Croatia which is in a checkered form.

Discography

Solo

1991: Ne dam Krajine / Не дам Крајине

1992: Stan'te paše i Ustaše / Стан'те паше и усташе

1993: Živjeće ovaj narod / Живјеће овај народ

1993: Све за српство, српство низашта

1993: Uživo sa braćom Bajić, Rašom Pavlovićem, i Goricom Ilić / Уживо са браћом Бајић Рашом Павловићем и Горицом Илић

1994: Još se ništa ne zna / Још се ништа не зна

1994: Rat i mir / Рат и мир

1994: Kockar bez sreće / Коцкар без среће

1994: Pobijediće istina / Побиједиће истина

1995: Igraju se delije / Играју се делије

1995: Idemo Dalje / Идемо даље

1996: Zbogom oružje / Збогом оружје

1997: Ne dirajte njega / Не дирајте њега

1998: Povratak u budućnost / Повратак у будућност

1998: Srpskim radikalima / Српским радикалима

1999: Biti il ne Biti / Бити ил не бити

1999: Život je tamo / Живот је тамо

2000: Zaljubljen i mlad / Заљубљен и млад

2001: Đe si legendo / Ђе си легендо

2002: Zbogom pameti / Збогом памети

2003: Baja Mali Knindža: uživo / Уживо

2003: Luda Žurka - uživo / Луда журка - уживо

2006: Za kim zvona zvone /За ким звона звоне

2007: Gluvi barut / Глуви барут

2011: Ti si kralj / Tи си краљ

With Braća sa Dinare band

1994: Goki i Baja bend / Гоки и Баја бенд

1995: Bila jednom jedna zemlja / Била једном једна земља

1996: Plači voljena zemljo / Плачи вољена земљо

1997: Ja se svoga, ne odričem groba / Ја се свога, не одричем до гроба

1998: Idemo do kraja / Идемо до краја

References

External links

Official website Knindza Radio - Krajiska Muzika Interview

baja mali knindza songs

Category:1966 births Category:Living people Category:People from Livno Category:Serbs of Bosnia and Herzegovina Category:Serbian male singers Category:Serbian folk singers

cs:Baja Mali Knindza de:Baja Mali Knindža es:Baja Mali Knindža fr:Baja Mali Knindža hr:Baja Mali Knindža pl:Baja Mali Knindža ru:Байя Мали Книнджа sl:Baja Mali Knindža sr:Баја Мали Книнџа sh:Baja Mali Knindža sv:Baja Mali Knindža

name	Yu Dafu
birth date	December 07, 1896
birth place	Fuyang, Zhejiang, China
death date	September 17, 1945
occupation	Short Story writer and Poet
website	}}

Yu Dafu () (December 7, 1896—September 17, 1945). Born in Fuyang, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, was a modern Chinese short story writer and poet.

Early years

Yu Dafu's father died at when he was only three, leaving the family poverty-stricken and destitute. He received a number of scholarships through the Chinese government and went on to receive a traditional Chinese education in Hangzhou. Chronologically he studied in Jiangxing-Fu Middle School (before he came to Hangzhou), Hangzhou-Fu Middle School, Yuying Academy (育英学堂, formerly of Zhejiang University).

In 1912, he entered Hangchow University (later its major part merged into Zhejiang University) preparatory through examination. He was there only for a short period before he was expelled for participation in a student strike.

He then moved to Japan, where he studied economics at the Tokyo Imperial University between 1913 and 1922, where he met other Chinese intellectuals (namely, Guo Moruo, Zhang Ziping and Tian Han). Together, in 1921 they founded the Chuangzao she 創造社 ("Creation Society"), which promoted vernacular and modern literature. One of his earlier works Chenlun 沉淪, also his most famous, published in Japan in 1921. The work had gained immense popularity in China, shocking the world of Chinese literature with its frank dealing with sex, as well as grievances directed at the incompetence of Chinese government at the time.

In 1922, he returned to China as a literary celebrity and worked as the editor of Creation Quarterly, editing journals and writing short stories. In 1923, after an attack of tuberculosis, Yu Dafu directed his attention to the welfare of the masses.

In 1927, he worked as an editor of the Hongshui literary magazine. He later came in conflict with the Communist Party of China and fled back to Japan.

Second Sino-Japanese war

After the start of the Second Sino-Japanese war, he returned to China and worked as a writer of anti-Japanese propaganda in Hangzhou, and later in Zhejiang. From 1938 to 1942, he worked as a literary editor for the newspaper Sin Chew Jit Poh in Singapore.

In 1942 when the Imperial Japanese Army invaded Singapore, he was forced to flee to Sumatra. Known under a different identity, he settled there among other overseas Chinese and began a brewery business with the help of the locals. Later he was forced to help the Japanese military police as an interpreter when it was discovered that he was one of the few "locals" in the area who could speak Japanese.

In 1945, he was arrested by the Kempeitai when his true identity was finally discovered. It is believed that he was executed by the Japanese shortly after the surrender of Japan.

Works

Chenlun 沉淪 "Sinking" (1921)

Riji jiuzhong 日記九種 “Nine Diaries” (1927)

Guoqu 過去 “The Past" (1927)

his first novel?? (1928) (moderately successful)

his second novel?? (1932)

Chuben 出奔 "Flight" (1935)

His most popular work, breaking all Chinese sales records, was Jih-chi chiu-chung "Nine Diaries", which detailed his affair with the writer Wang Ying-hsin. The most critically acclaimed work is Kuo-ch'u or "The Past", written in 1927.

References

Encyclopædia Britannica 2005 Ultimate Reference Suite DVD, article- "Yü Ta-fu"

External links

Category:1896 births Category:1945 deaths Category:Chinese expatriates in Japan Category:Hangzhou High School alumni Category:People from Hangzhou Category:Republic of China poets Category:University of Tokyo alumni Category:Zhejiang University alumni

de:Yu Dafu es:Yu Dafu fr:Yu Dafu it:Yu Dafu no:Yu Dafu zh:郁達夫