• fafferlicious@lemmy.world
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    2 days ago

    The other commenter is correct, but another way to think or visualize is that any subtraction or division operation can be understood as an addition or multiplication.

    X - 5 = X + (-5)

    X / 5 = X * (1/5)

    You can think of subtraction and division not being distinct or separated from addition and multiplication; instead, they’re just a shortcut notation in mathematics because everyone was tired of having to write extra characters.

    Figuratively, at least.