Basic Math Definitions

https://www.mathsisfun.com/basic-math-definitions.html

Basic Math Definitions

We have collected some basic definitions on this page.
For lots more definitions, explanations, etc, use search above.
Or look up your word in the:
Illustrated Mathematics Dictionary
A B C D E F

G H I

K L

M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

The Basic Operations

In basic mathematics there are many ways of saying the same thing:
Symbol

1 of 7

Words Used
Addition, Add, Sum, Plus, Increase, Total
Subtraction, Subtract, Minus, Less, Difference, Decrease, Take Away, Deduct
Multiplication, Multiply, Product, By, Times, Lots Of

9/11/15, 12:37 AM

Basic Math Definitions

https://www.mathsisfun.com/basic-math-definitions.html

Division, Divide, Quotient, Goes Into, How Many Times

Addition is ...
... bringing two or more numbers (or things) together to make a new total.
The numbers to be added together are called the "Addends":

Subtraction is ...
... taking one number away from another.

Minuend Subtrahend = Difference

2 of 7

9/11/15, 12:37 AM

Basic Math Definitions

https://www.mathsisfun.com/basic-math-definitions.html

Minuend: The number that is to be subtracted from.

Subtrahend: The number that is to be subtracted.
Difference: The result of subtracting one number from another.

Multiplication is ...
... (in its simplest form) repeated addition.
Here we see that 6+6+6 (three 6s) make 18:

It can also be said that 3+3+3+3+3+3 (six 3s) make 18

But we can also multiply by fractions or decimals, which goes beyond the simple idea of repeated
addition:

Example: 3.5 5 = 17.5

3 of 7

9/11/15, 12:37 AM

Basic Math Definitions

https://www.mathsisfun.com/basic-math-definitions.html

which is 3.5 lots of 5, or 5 lots of 3.5

Division is ...
... splitting into equal parts or groups. It is the result of "fair sharing".
Division has its own special words to remember.
Let's take the simple question of dividing 22 by 5. The answer is 4, with 2 left over. Here we see
the important words:

Which is the same as:

A Fraction is ...
4 of 7

9/11/15, 12:37 AM

Basic Math Definitions

https://www.mathsisfun.com/basic-math-definitions.html

... part of a whole.

A fraction is written with the bottom part (the
denominator) telling us how many parts the whole is
divided into,
and the top part (the numerator) telling us how many
parts we have.
See Fractions for more details.

A Decimal Number is ...

... a number that contains a Decimal Point.

5 of 7

9/11/15, 12:37 AM

Basic Math Definitions

https://www.mathsisfun.com/basic-math-definitions.html

See Decimals for more details.

A Percentage is ...
... parts per 100. The symbol is

Example: 25% means 25 per 100 (25% of this box is green)

See Percentages for more details.

Average (Mean) is ...

... the sum divided by the count.
We calculate the average by adding up all the values, then divide by how many values.

Example: What is the average of 9, 2, 12 and 5?

6 of 7

9/11/15, 12:37 AM

Basic Math Definitions

https://www.mathsisfun.com/basic-math-definitions.html

Add up all the values: 9 + 2 + 12 + 5 = 28

Divide by how many values (there are four of them): 28 4 = 7
So the average is 7

See Mean for more details.

Search :: Index :: About :: Contact :: Contribute :: Cite This Page :: Privacy

Copyright 2014 MathsIsFun.com

7 of 7

9/11/15, 12:37 AM