Ukuphungula kukusebenza kwe-arithmetika ukuze kufunyanwe umahluko phakathi kwamanani amabini. Amagama amanani abekelwe bucala xa kusetyenziswa intetho yokuphungula ngala, i-minuend - ne-subtrahend = umahluko. Le ntetho ithi 7 - 4 = 3 ingathethwa ngolu hlobo ""kwisixhenxe siphungule isine kushiyeka isithathu,"" ""xa sinesixhenxe ze sithabathe isine kushiyeka isithathu,"" okanye ""isine kwisixhenxe kushiyeka isithathu.