addend

An addend is a number that is added in an addition operation. In the expression a + b, both a and b are addends, and their sum is a + b. When more than two terms are added, each term remains an addend and the result is called the sum.

Addends can be any quantities that evaluate to numbers, including integers, fractions, decimals, or algebraic expressions. The order of addends does not affect the sum, reflecting the commutative property of addition, and with more than two addends the grouping of terms does not affect the total, reflecting the associative property. Negative addends decrease the sum, while a zero addend leaves the sum unchanged.

In algebra and mathematics, addends can be variables or expressions, as in x + y or 3/4 + z. In practical contexts, the term describes the components that contribute to a total, such as line items in a bill or terms in a financial sum. The concept of addends is distinct from the sum, which is the result of adding the addends together.