What does deficient in math terms mean?

Answer 1

In mathematical terms, "deficient" typically refers to a number that is less than the sum of its proper divisors. For example, the number 8 is considered deficient because its proper divisors (1, 2, and 4) sum to 7, which is less than 8 itself. This concept is often used in number theory to categorize numbers as deficient, perfect, or abundant based on their divisor sums.