The word "fewer" in math indicates a subtraction operation, signifying a smaller quantity.
According to the provided reference, "fewer" means having a smaller amount. When a math problem uses the word "fewer," it tells students they need to subtract to find the answer. For instance, if John has 9 cats and Henry has 4 fewer cats than John, you would subtract 4 from 9 (9 - 4 = 5) to determine that Henry has 5 cats. The word "fewer" directly indicates a subtraction operation.
Here's a breakdown:
- The term "fewer" implies subtraction.
- It highlights the difference in quantity between two values.