Math Vocabulary

Math has its own language. Words like sum, difference, product, and quotient have special meanings. Learning math vocabulary helps you understand problems and explain your thinking.

Operation Words

Each math operation has special words. The answer to addition is the sum. The answer to subtraction is the difference. The answer to multiplication is the product. The answer to division is the quotient.

Words like altogether and total usually mean to add. Words like how many more and left over usually mean to subtract.

Shape and Number Words

Shapes have vocabulary too. A vertex is a corner of a shape. An edge is a side. Parallel lines never meet. Perpendicular lines meet at a right angle.

Numbers have special words too. Digits are the symbols 0 through 9. An integer is any whole number, including negative numbers. Even just means divisible by 2.

Fun Facts

• The word mathematics comes from a Greek word meaning learning or study.
• The word calculate comes from the Latin word calculus, which means small stone. Ancient people used stones to count.
• There are over 1,000 special math words in the English language.

Did You Know?

The word googol means the number 1 followed by 100 zeros. The internet company Google got its name from this math word, with a different spelling!