math

The word math comes from a shortening of mathematics. This is often what math is formally called when it’s a school subject. In the U.K. and other places, it’s shortened to maths. (See more about this in the next two sections.)

The type of math you learn early in school—addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division—is sometimes called arithmetic. It all starts with basic counting, but there are many branches of math, including algebra, geometry, and trigonometry, and calculus.

The word calculus is also sometimes used in a general way to mean calculation, and the word math can also be used in this way.

The word math is also used in other general ways. If you say the math doesn’t add up, it means something’s not right with the numbers (figures, values, totals, tally, etc.).