{"id":608,"date":"2026-02-24T04:05:56","date_gmt":"2026-02-23T19:05:56","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/d.pontalk.com\/?p=608"},"modified":"2026-02-24T04:13:30","modified_gmt":"2026-02-23T19:13:30","slug":"math-vocabulary","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/d.pontalk.com\/?p=608","title":{"rendered":"Math vocabulary"},"content":{"rendered":"
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English Learning for Beginners: Math Vocabulary<\/h1>\n

Dialogue<\/h2>\n
\n

Alice<\/strong>: Bob, guess what? I just tried to figure out how many snacks we have left.<\/p>\n

Bob<\/strong>: Alice, you’re always counting! So, what’s the grand total<\/strong>?<\/p>\n

Alice<\/strong>: Well, we had twelve cookies, but I subtracted<\/strong> three already.<\/p>\n

Bob<\/strong>: Aha! So the difference<\/strong> is nine. Good math!<\/p>\n

Alice<\/strong>: Then I added<\/strong> two more because I found a secret stash. So nine plus<\/strong> two equals<\/strong> eleven.<\/p>\n

Bob<\/strong>: Secret stash! You’re a wizard. What if we divide<\/strong> them equally between us?<\/p>\n

Alice<\/strong>: Eleven divided by<\/strong> two? That’s a problem<\/strong>! It’s five point five. We can’t have half a cookie!<\/p>\n

Bob<\/strong>: True. Maybe we should multiply<\/strong> the remaining whole cookies by two to make it fair?<\/p>\n

Alice<\/strong>: No, Bob, that won’t work! Five times<\/strong> two is ten. We’d still have one left over.<\/p>\n

Bob<\/strong>: Okay, new equation<\/strong>: one big cookie plus<\/strong> one big cookie equals<\/strong> two big cookies. Easier!<\/p>\n

Alice<\/strong>: But we don’t have big cookies! We have eleven small ones. What’s the sum<\/strong> of our snack happiness?<\/p>\n

Bob<\/strong>: I think the product<\/strong> of our snack happiness is directly proportional to how quickly we eat them.<\/p>\n

Alice<\/strong>: You’re just trying to distract me from the fraction<\/strong> problem. What percentage<\/strong> of cookies do I get?<\/p>\n

Bob<\/strong>: Let’s say… 50% for you, 50% for me. One cookie stays for the next math lesson.<\/p>\n

Alice<\/strong>: Deal! That sounds like a fair quotient<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

Current Situation<\/h2>\n

Math vocabulary isn’t just for mathematicians or students in school! We use it every day, often without even realizing it. When you’re splitting a bill at a restaurant, checking prices at the supermarket, following a recipe, or even telling the time, you’re using basic math terms. Knowing these words in English will help you understand conversations, instructions, and information much more clearly in daily life, travel, and work. It makes simple calculations and discussions about quantities, prices, and shares much easier to handle!<\/p>\n

Key Phrases<\/h2>\n
\n
    \n
  • Add<\/strong>: to combine numbers to find a total.
    Example: Please add<\/strong> these numbers together: 5 and 3.<\/em><\/li>\n
  • Subtract<\/strong>: to take one number away from another.
    Example: If you subtract<\/strong> 5 from 10, you get 5.<\/em><\/li>\n
  • Multiply<\/strong>: to increase a number by a certain number of times.
    Example: Multiply<\/strong> 3 by 4, and the answer is 12.<\/em><\/li>\n
  • Divide<\/strong>: to split a number into equal parts.
    Example: Can you divide<\/strong> 10 apples among 5 friends?<\/em><\/li>\n
  • Plus<\/strong> (+): used to indicate addition.
    Example: 2 plus<\/strong> 2 equals 4.<\/em><\/li>\n
  • Minus<\/strong> (-): used to indicate subtraction.
    Example: 10 minus<\/strong> 3 is 7.<\/em><\/li>\n
  • Times<\/strong> (x): used to indicate multiplication.
    Example: 5 times<\/strong> 2 is 10.<\/em><\/li>\n
  • Divided by<\/strong> (\/): used to indicate division.
    Example: 10 divided by<\/strong> 2 is 5.<\/em><\/li>\n
  • Equals<\/strong> (=): has the same value as.
    Example: The sum equals<\/strong> 20.<\/em><\/li>\n
  • Sum<\/strong>: the result of adding two or more numbers.
    Example: What is the sum<\/strong> of 5 and 7?<\/em><\/li>\n
  • Difference<\/strong>: the result of subtracting one number from another.
    Example: The difference<\/strong> between 10 and 3 is 7.<\/em><\/li>\n
  • Product<\/strong>: the result of multiplying two or more numbers.
    Example: The product<\/strong> of 4 and 5 is 20.<\/em><\/li>\n
  • Quotient<\/strong>: the result of dividing one number by another.
    Example: The quotient<\/strong> of 12 divided by 3 is 4.<\/em><\/li>\n
  • Problem<\/strong>: a question that needs to be solved, especially in math.
    Example: I have a math problem<\/strong> to solve.<\/em><\/li>\n
  • Equation<\/strong>: a statement that two mathematical expressions are equal.
    Example: Solve this equation<\/strong>: x + 2 = 5.<\/em><\/li>\n
  • Percentage<\/strong> (%): a fraction out of 100.
    Example: What percentage<\/strong> of students passed the exam?<\/em><\/li>\n
  • Fraction<\/strong>: a part of a whole number.
    Example: One half (1\/2) is a common fraction<\/strong>.<\/em><\/li>\n
  • Total<\/strong>: the whole amount; the sum.
    Example: What is the total<\/strong> cost of all the items?<\/em><\/li>\n<\/ul><\/div>\n

    Grammar Points<\/h2>\n
    \n
      \n
    • Verbs for Operations<\/strong>: We use specific verbs to describe mathematical operations.\n
        \n
      • Add<\/strong> (verb) \/ Addition<\/strong> (noun)<\/li>\n
      • Subtract<\/strong> (verb) \/ Subtraction<\/strong> (noun)<\/li>\n
      • Multiply<\/strong> (verb) \/ Multiplication<\/strong> (noun)<\/li>\n
      • Divide<\/strong> (verb) \/ Division<\/strong> (noun)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

        Example: “Let’s add<\/strong> the numbers.” or “The addition<\/strong> of these numbers is easy.”<\/em> <\/li>\n

      • Prepositions in Math<\/strong>:\n
          \n
        • We often use “by<\/strong>” with “multiply” and “divide”: “Multiply 3 by<\/strong> 4<\/em>,” “Divided 10 by<\/strong> 2<\/em>.”<\/li>\n
        • We use “from<\/strong>” with “subtract”: “Subtract 5 from<\/strong> 10<\/em>.”<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n
        • “Equals” (or “is”)<\/strong>: When stating the result of a calculation, we use “equals,” “is,” or “is equal to.”\n
            \n
          • “2 plus<\/strong> 2 equals<\/strong> 4.”<\/li>\n
          • “3 times<\/strong> 4 is<\/strong> 12.”<\/li>\n
          • “10 divided by<\/strong> 2 is equal to<\/strong> 5.”<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

            The simple present tense is very common because mathematical facts are general truths. <\/li>\n<\/ul><\/div>\n

            Practice Exercises<\/h2>\n

            Exercise 1: Fill in the Blank<\/h3>\n

            Complete the sentences with the correct math vocabulary word from the list above.<\/p>\n

            \n

            1. 8 ____ 2 equals 10.<\/p>\n

            Answer: plus<\/em><\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

            \n

            2. If you ____ 5 from 15, you get 10.<\/p>\n

            Answer: subtract<\/em><\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

            \n

            3. The ____ of 3 and 7 is 21.<\/p>\n

            Answer: product<\/em><\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

            \n

            4. 12 ____ 4 equals 3.<\/p>\n

            Answer: divided by<\/em><\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

            \n

            5. What is the ____ of 5, 8, and 10?<\/p>\n

            Answer: sum<\/em><\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

            Exercise 2: Match the Word to its Definition<\/h3>\n

            Match the math word on the left with its meaning on the right.<\/p>\n

            \n

            1. Add: _______<\/p>\n

            Answer: to combine numbers<\/em><\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

            \n

            2. Subtract: _______<\/p>\n

            Answer: to take one number away from another<\/em><\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

            \n

            3. Multiply: _______<\/p>\n

            Answer: to increase a number by a certain number of times<\/em><\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

            \n

            4. Divide: _______<\/p>\n

            Answer: to split a number into equal parts<\/em><\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

            \n

            5. Equals: _______<\/p>\n

            Answer: has the same value as<\/em><\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

            Exercise 3: Solve the Math Problems<\/h3>\n

            Listen or read the question and provide the numerical answer.<\/p>\n

            \n

            1. What is 5 plus 3?<\/p>\n

            Answer: 8 (5 + 3 = 8)<\/em><\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

            \n

            2. What is 10 minus 4?<\/p>\n

            Answer: 6 (10 – 4 = 6)<\/em><\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

            \n

            3. What is 6 times 2?<\/p>\n

            Answer: 12 (6 x 2 = 12)<\/em><\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

            \n

            4. What is 9 divided by 3?<\/p>\n

            Answer: 3 (9 \/ 3 = 3)<\/em><\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

            \n

            5. What is the sum of 1, 2, and 3?<\/p>\n

            Answer: 6 (1 + 2 + 3 = 6)<\/em><\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

            English Learning for Beginners: Math Vocabulary audio_play Dialogue Alice: Bob, guess what? I just tried to figure out how many snacks we have left. Bob: Alice, you’re always counting! So, what’s the grand total? Alice: Well, we had twelve cookies, but I subtracted three already. Bob: Aha! So the difference is nine. Good math! Alice: […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[7],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-608","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-basic"],"featured_image_src":null,"author_info":{"display_name":"poster","author_link":"https:\/\/d.pontalk.com\/?author=2"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/d.pontalk.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/608","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/d.pontalk.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/d.pontalk.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/d.pontalk.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/d.pontalk.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=608"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/d.pontalk.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/608\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/d.pontalk.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=608"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/d.pontalk.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=608"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/d.pontalk.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=608"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}