Difference

The difference of two numbers is the number obtained when the lesser number is subtracted from the greater number.

The difference of 4 and 2 is:

The difference of -3 and -9 is:

Another way of putting it, is that the difference is the absolute value of subtracting either number from the other.

The number being subtracted is the subtrahend, the number being subtracted from is the minuend.