# unaryMinus() Function & Examples

Use the unaryMinus() operators function in Calcul.io. Review its syntax, edit working examples, understand the result, and explore related math functions.

## unaryMinus

#### -x

#### unaryMinus(x)

Try it yourself:

```calculio
-4.5
-(-5.6)
-"22"
```

[add](https://calcul.io/function/add/index.md)

[subtract](https://calcul.io/function/subtract/index.md)

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## unaryMinus(): negate a value

**unaryMinus(x)** changes the sign of x. It is the operation behind the leading minus in `-x`.

## Examples

Negating 5 gives −5; negating −5 gives 5. With matrices, every entry is negated.

## Related arithmetic

Use [subtract()](https://calcul.io/function/subtract/index.md) for a difference between two values, [unaryPlus()](https://calcul.io/function/unaryPlus/index.md) for explicit positive conversion, [abs()](https://calcul.io/function/abs/index.md) for magnitude, and [sign()](https://calcul.io/function/sign/index.md) for classification.

## Caveat

Negation is not the same as taking a reciprocal. Use division or a negative exponent when that is required.

[All functions](https://calcul.io/functions/index.md)