Maths Vocabulary

Have you ever taken a maths lesson in English? Do you know the right vocabulary to talk about mathematics?

Let's take a look at some basic math terms:

Plus or Add (+)

Two plus two is four. (2+2=4)
Five add five is ten. (5+5=10)

Minus, Subtract or Take Away (-)

Six minus two is four (6-2=4)
Ten subtract five is five (10-5=5) Nine take away eight is one (9-8=1)
Eight take away three is five (8-3=5)

Percent (%)

Twenty-five percent of eight is two.
The unemployment rate in the USA is six percent.

Decimal Point (.)

A number less than one that is written as one or more numbers after a decimal point:
10.1
4.345

Times or Multiply (x)

Three times three is nine (3x3=9)
Multiply five by five.
Four multiplied by two is eight (4x2=8)

Divide (÷)

Divide 8 by 2.
Ten divided by two is five (10÷2=5)

Equals or Is (=)

Five plus five equals ten (5+5=10)
Three times three is nine (3x3=9)

Now choose the missing maths vocabulary to complete these simple problems:

• 1) Ten ___ ten equals twenty.
  
  is
  minus
  plus
  
  
• 2) Five ___ five is zero.
  
  minus
  add
  multiply
  
  
• 3) Twenty ___ by five is four.
  
  multiplied
  divided
  take away
  
  
• 4) Three ___ four is twelve.
  
  add
  times
  minus
  
  
• 5) Six __ two is eight.
  
  divided
  add
  minus
  
  
• 6) Twelve ___ by four equals three.
  
  divide
  add
  divided
  
  
• 7) Ten ___ of a hundred is ten.
  
  subtract
  percent
  divide