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Math Vocabulary

By Kenneth Beare, About.com Guide

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

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