The difference between +1 and -1

Question

> :t (+1)
(+1) :: Num a => a -> a

> :t (-1)
(-1) :: Num a => a

How come the second one is not a function? Do I have to write (+(-1)) or is there a better way?

Answer 1

This is because (-1) is interpreted as negative one, however (+1) is interpreted as the curried function (\x->1+x).

In haskell, (a **) is syntactic sugar for (**) a, and (** a) is (\x -> x ** a). However (-) is a special case since it is both a unary operator (negate) and a binary operator (minus). Therefore this syntactic sugar cannot be applied unambiguously here. When you want (\x -> a - x) you can write (-) a, and, as already answered in Currying subtraction, you can use the functions negate and subtract to disambiguate between the unary and binary - functions.

Answer 2

(-1) is negative one, as others have noted. The subtract one function is \x -> x-1, flip (-) 1 or indeed (+ (-1)).

- is treated as a special case in the expression grammar. + is not, presumably because positive literals don't need the leading plus and allowing it would lead to even more confusion.

Edit: I got it wrong the first time. ((-) 1) is the function "subtract from one", or (\x -> 1-x).

Answer 3

Do I have to write (+(-1)) or is there a better way?

I just found a function called subtract, so I can also say subtract 1. I find that quite readable :-)