The term "n-1" is often used in mathematics and statistics to represent a value that is one less than a given number, denoted as n. For example, if n is 5, then n-1 would be 4. This concept is useful in various calculations, such as determining degrees of freedom in statistics, where you might need to adjust the total count to account for certain constraints. In practical applications, "n-1" can help simplify problems. For instance, when analyzing a sample of data, using n-1 instead of n can provide a more accurate estimate of the population variance. This adjustment helps ensure that the calculations reflect the true variability of the entire group.