How to talk about math terms in English

Mathematics might be a universal language, but talking about it in English can feel daunting if you're not familiar with the terms. With a few helpful tips, discussing everything from basic arithmetic to fractions in English can be as effortless as in any other language. Let's simplify these concepts together.

Addition and subtraction

Just like in German, in English, we use "plus" to talk about addition and "minus" for subtraction. These basic terms make it easy to describe basic arithmetic in everyday conversations. For instance, you might find yourself saying.

"The recipe says we need three eggs plus two more for the topping, so that's five in total."

"The total is $50, minus the $10 coupon I used at checkout."

"There are six guests already, plus three more arriving soon—that's nine people altogether."

Multiplication and division

When it comes to multiplication, we often use "times" or "multiplied by." Here are a few examples:

"Two times four equals eight."

"Five multiplied by two equals ten."

For division, we use the phrase "divided by." For example:

"Twenty divided by five equals four."

"Twelve divided by four equals three."

Fractions

Fractions represent another form of division. We often use "over" to describe the visual representation of fractions, like the division line. For example:

"One over five"

"Two over seven"

For common fractions, we use terms like "one-third" or "three-tenths" instead of "one over three" or "three over ten." Additionally, we have special terms for halves and quarters:

"One half" instead of "one over two"

"One quarter" or "a quarter" instead of "one over four"

For example:

"I drank half of the water bottle."

"Could you cut the cake into quarters?"

So, whether you're splitting the bill, following a recipe, or planning a trip, these expressions will help you take the guesswork out of the equation.

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