Definition
The result of subtracting one quantity from another; the amount by which two values are unequal.
Plain English
How far apart two numbers are when you take one away from the other.
Context Anchor
Seen when comparing measurements, limits, readings, weights, distances, or other values in maintenance manuals and calculations.
Derivation
From the Latin 'differentia,' meaning 'a carrying apart' or 'distinction.' In maintenance work, it carries that same idea: how far apart two values stand once you compare them.
Why Pilots Care
Accurate identification of differences in readings helps detect faults in electrical or fluid systems before they affect flight safety.
Intuition Check
Do not read difference here as a general disagreement or a vague change. In this context, it means the exact amount between two values, found by subtraction.
Example Sentence 1
The difference between the measured cylinder pressure and the minimum allowable value was only 2 psi, so the cylinder remained serviceable.
Example Sentence 2
A pressure difference of more than five psi indicated a leak in the hydraulic line.