undefined | Better HN

0 pointsalexb_2y ago0 comments

I wonder if this is why losses are written down with () instead of -.

0 comments

3 comments · 2 top-level

kqr2y ago· 1 in thread

Yes, that's part of it. The lengths accountants will go to to avoid having to deal with negative numbers is a bit funny.

inopinatus2y ago

it’s because they know it’s a slippery slope into allowing imaginary and irrational numbers, which is how accountants go to prison.

PopAlongKid2y ago

It's just to make it more visually apparent. A tiny preceding hyphen is easy to miss. Same reason why negatives are sometimes printed in red, leading to such phrases as "drowning in red ink".

j / k navigate · click thread line to collapse