> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://mariadb.com/docs/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://mariadb.com/docs/server/reference/sql-structure/operators/arithmetic-operators/subtraction-operator.md).

# Subtraction Operator (-)

## Syntax

```bnf
-
```

## Description

Subtraction. The operator is also used as the unary minus for changing sign.

If both operands are integers, the result is calculated with [BIGINT](/docs/server/reference/data-types/numeric-data-types/bigint.md) precision. If either integer is unsigned, the result is also an unsigned integer, unless the `NO_UNSIGNED_SUBTRACTION` [SQL\_MODE](/docs/server/server-management/variables-and-modes/sql_mode.md) is enabled, in which case the result is always signed.

For real or string operands, the operand with the highest precision determines the result precision.

## Examples

```sql
SELECT 96-9;
+------+
| 96-9 |
+------+
|   87 |
+------+

SELECT 15-17;
+-------+
| 15-17 |
+-------+
|    -2 |
+-------+

SELECT 3.66 + 1.333;
+--------------+
| 3.66 + 1.333 |
+--------------+
|        4.993 |
+--------------+
```

Unary minus:

```sql
SELECT - (3+5);
+---------+
| - (3+5) |
+---------+
|      -8 |
+---------+
```

## See Also

* [Type Conversion](/docs/server/reference/sql-functions/string-functions/type-conversion.md)
* [Addition Operator (+)](/docs/server/reference/sql-structure/operators/arithmetic-operators/addition-operator.md)
* [Multiplication Operator (\*)](/docs/server/reference/sql-structure/operators/arithmetic-operators/multiplication-operator.md)
* [Division Operator (/)](/docs/server/reference/sql-structure/operators/arithmetic-operators/division-operator.md)
* [Operator Precedence](/docs/server/reference/sql-structure/operators/operator-precedence.md)

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