Where did the negative sign in math come from?

The negative sign in mathematics originated in the 15th century, with its first recorded use attributed to the Italian mathematician Gerolamo Cardano. It was initially used to denote debts or losses, distinguishing them from positive quantities representing assets or gains. Over time, the negative sign became a standardized symbol to represent numbers less than zero, facilitating more complex calculations and the development of algebra. Its adoption helped formalize negative numbers in mathematical notation, contributing to the evolution of mathematics as a whole.