ESL Vocabulary for Maths Symbols
The following page has learning games and example sentences using the following 11 words from the "maths symbols" category:Let's Do The Test!
Example Sentences
add
to combine two or more numbers or quantities to find their total or sum
Easy Examples
- When you add, you put numbers together to find the total.
- I add two apples and three more to get five in total.
- Adding helps you solve math problems.
Harder Examples
- She will add the numbers in the column to calculate the total.
- Adding fractions requires finding a common denominator.
- He added the cost of the items in his shopping cart.
brackets
symbols used in mathematics to group numbers or expressions and indicate the order of operations
Easy Examples
- Brackets are used in math to group numbers or operations.
- In (3 + 2) × 4, the brackets show that you add first.
- Brackets make math expressions clear.
Harder Examples
- In the equation, you should solve the expressions within the brackets first.
- Brackets help clarify the sequence of calculations in complex equations.
- He used brackets to enclose the terms that needed to be evaluated together.
divide
to separate a number or quantity into equal parts or groups, often represented by the division symbol (÷)
Easy Examples
- To divide is to split a number into equal parts.
- If you have 10 candies and divide them equally among 2 friends, each gets 5.
- Division helps share things equally.
Harder Examples
- She will divide the pizza into eight equal slices for the party.
- Dividing decimals involves shifting the decimal point correctly.
- He divided the total expenses evenly among the team members.
equals
a symbol (=) used to indicate that two expressions or quantities are of the same value or equivalent
Easy Examples
- Equals means two things have the same value.
- 2 + 3 equals 5 because they have the same value.
- The equals sign (=) shows that two things are the same.
Harder Examples
- In the equation, the equals sign shows that both sides are equal.
- Equals is a fundamental concept in algebra and mathematical comparisons.
- He wrote down the solution and added the equals sign to complete the equation.
greater than
a mathematical comparison symbol (>) used to indicate that one quantity is larger or more significant than another
Easy Examples
- Greater than (>) means one number is bigger than another.
- 5 is greater than 3 because 5 is more.
- Greater than helps compare numbers.
Harder Examples
- Five is greater than three, as represented by the greater-than symbol.
- In inequalities, the greater-than sign points toward the larger value.
- He used the greater-than sign to compare the heights of two buildings.
less than
a mathematical comparison symbol (<) used to indicate that one quantity is smaller or less significant than another
Easy Examples
- Less than (<) means one number is smaller than another.
- 2 is less than 7 because 2 is smaller.
- Less than helps compare numbers.
Harder Examples
- Two is less than four, as shown by the less-than symbol.
- In mathematical expressions, the less-than sign points toward the smaller value.
- She used the less-than symbol to compare the weights of two objects.
multiply
to perform the mathematical operation of repeated addition, often represented by the multiplication symbol (× or *)
Easy Examples
- Multiplying is adding a number many times.
- 3 × 4 means you add 3 four times: 3 + 3 + 3 + 3 = 12.
- Multiplying helps calculate groups of things.
Harder Examples
- To find the area of a rectangle, you need to multiply its length and width.
- Multiplying fractions involves multiplying the numerators and denominators separately.
- He multiplied the number of guests by the cost per person to calculate the total expenses.
not equal to
a mathematical comparison symbol (≠) used to indicate that two quantities or expressions are not equal or are different
Easy Examples
- Not equal to (≠) means two things are not the same.
- 2 + 3 is not equal to 6 because they are different.
- Not equal to shows differences.
Harder Examples
- In the equation, the not-equal-to sign indicates that the values are not the same.
- Not equal to is used to express inequality or dissimilarity in mathematics.
- He added the not-equal-to symbol to emphasize the distinction between the two options.
percent
a mathematical concept represented by the symbol (%) to express a portion or fraction of a whole as a percentage
Easy Examples
- Percent (%) shows a part of a whole out of 100.
- 50% means half, like 50 out of 100.
- Percent helps express parts as fractions of 100.
Harder Examples
- The discount is 20 percent off the original price.
- To calculate the percentage, divide the part by the whole and multiply by 100.
- He converted the fraction into a percent to express the value as a ratio.
pi
a mathematical constant (Ï€) representing the ratio of a circle's circumference to its diameter, approximately equal to 3.14159
Easy Examples
- Pi (Ï€) is a special number in math, about 3.14159.
- Pi is used in circles to find their size and shape.
- Pi is essential in geometry and math.
Harder Examples
- Pi is used in geometry and trigonometry to calculate circle-related measurements.
- The symbol π is often used to represent the value of pi in mathematical equations.
- He used pi to calculate the circumference of the circle.
square root
a mathematical operation (√) that determines a value when multiplied by itself equals a given number
Easy Examples
- The square root (√) of a number is what you multiply by itself to get it.
- The square root of 9 is 3 because 3 × 3 = 9.
- Square roots help find side lengths of squares.
Harder Examples
- The square root of 16 is 4, as indicated by the square root symbol.
- Square roots are used to find the length of the sides of square-shaped areas.
- She calculated the square root to find the length of the hypotenuse in a right triangle.
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