Math Vocabulary

It's important to know the right math vocabulary when speaking about mathematics in class. This page provides math vocabulary for basic calculations.

Basic Math Vocabulary

+ - plus

• Example: 2 + 2
  Two plus two

- - minus

• Example: 6 - 4
  Six minus four

x OR * - times

• Example: 5 x 3 OR 5 * 3
  Five times three

= - equals

• Example: 2 + 2 = 4
  Two plus two equals four.

< - is less than

• Example: 7 < 10
  Seven is less than ten.

> - is greater than

• Example: 12 > 8
  Twelve is greater than eight.

≤ - is less than or equal to

• Example: 4 + 1 ≤ 6
  Four plus one is less than or equal to six.

≥ - is more than or equal to

• Example: 5 + 7 ≥ 10
  Five plus seven is equal to or greater than ten.

≠ - is not equal to

• Example: 12 ≠ 15
  Twelve is not equal to fifteen.

/ OR ÷ - divided by

• Example: 4 / 2 OR 4 ÷ 2
  Four divided by two.

1/2 - one half

• Example: 1 1/2
  One and one half.

1/3 - one third

• Example: 3 1/3
  Three and one third.

1/4 - one quarter

• Example: 2 1/4
  Two and one quarter

5/9, 2/3, 5/6 - five ninths, two thirds, five-sixths

• Example: 4 2/3
  Four and two thirds

% - percent

• Example: 98%
  Ninety-eight percent.