In message , Jerry Stuckle
writes
On 9/29/2015 4:40 AM, Jeff wrote:

Physicists and engineers do not mix gain and loss. Gain is always shown
as a positive number and loss as a negative number.

For instance - a system shows a gain and loss of +3, +5, +2, +1. What
is the total gain or loss of the system?


Of course they do, particularly when dealing with a quantity that is
defined as a LOSS.

I have never heard any engineer when asked the question 'what is that
attenuator' reply minus 3 dB. It is always 3dB. It is always called a
3dB attenuator, not a minus 3dB attenuator.

Jeff

Yes, and the power out is never +3db relative to the input. It is
always -3db.

And that's because it has suffered a positive LOSS of 3dB.

As I have already asked you, if you lose $10, do you say "I've lost
MINUS $10?
--
Ian