Historedia
EuropeEvent

Publication of Widmann's mercantile arithmetic in Leipzig

When
1489
Where
Leipzig
Episodes
1

In 1489, Johannes Widmann published his mercantile arithmetic text in Leipzig. The work is historically significant for containing the first printed use of plus and minus signs to denote business surpluses and deficits.

Episodes

  1. 1489 · LeipzigPublication of Mercantile Arithmetic

    Widmann published his arithmetic text in Leipzig in 1489, introducing plus and minus signs for business calculations.

Background and detail

Mathematical Contribution. The publication is noted for introducing the plus and minus symbols into print. Widmann used these signs specifically to indicate surpluses and deficits within business problems, marking a significant development in mathematical notation.

People involved

Sources

  1. Johannes Widmann Wikipedia, revision of 2026-08-29

Machine-drafted from the cited Wikipedia passages and checked by a reviewing model, not by a human editor. Every passage cites the revision it was written from; dates and places follow those passages.