This tag is for questions about the usage and meaning of mathematical terminology and the names for mathematical entities in English.
69
votes
25answers
5k views
How to read “E = (mc)²” so as not to mistake for “E = mc²”
According to one of the questions already asked on EL&U, “E = mc²” is read as
E equals M C squared.
How do we read “E = (mc)²” so that it is not mistaken for “E = mc²”?
3
votes
1answer
48 views
Understanding smaller parts without understanding what they mean when put together
I am looking for an which adjective/adverb/phrase which refers to understanding all of the smaller components of something without understanding what they mean when put together. "We understand every ...
2
votes
3answers
295 views
Percentage expression
Is it correct to say "15 percent less than 25"?
To me, it doesn't make 100% sense.
0
votes
3answers
56 views
What is a word similar to “multiplier” but for addition (or subtraction) [closed]
A multiplier is a number by which another number is multiplied. What do you call a number by which another number is added or subtracted?
3
votes
4answers
971 views
How to read parentheses equation [closed]
I have problems with reading mathematical equations in which there are parentheses; could anybody help me?
For example:
(x−a) (x+b) = 5
(x−a) + 2 (a+10) = z
2 + (10−a) d ...
0
votes
2answers
37 views
An expression similar to “frame of reference”
I am trying to explain a mathematical point that is used for comparison such that all values are compared to it, like a "frame of reference". I've also thought of "pivot of comparison". Are any of ...
14
votes
4answers
1k views
Is there a shorter term for “divided by” in American English?
Given the following expression:
5 (+-×÷%) 4
You would say "5 plus 4," "5 minus 4," "5 times 4," "5 divided by 4," and "5 mod(ulo) 4" respectively.
As far as I know, "divided by" does not have ...
19
votes
5answers
978 views
Is “iff” considered a real word or just an abbreviation?
I wonder if "iff" is considered a real word (as LEO says) or is it just an abbreviation (as in Wiktionary)?
-1
votes
5answers
2k views
Is it proper to state percentages greater than 100%? [closed]
Technically, "percent" should mean "for every hundred". So, I would think that it's perfectly fine to say "150%". However, in common usage, people rarely say percentages greater than a hundred. Is ...
-1
votes
1answer
99 views
Need we use “sums” in sentences whenever they describe the sum of plural objects? [duplicate]
Need we use sums in the case that the sentence describes the sum of plural objects?
For example, “100 centimeters sums to one meter” versus “100 centimeters sum to one meter”.
They both seem make ...
1
vote
1answer
154 views
dividend/divisor vs. numerator/denominator [closed]
From Wikipedia:
In the expression a ÷ b = c, a is called the dividend or numerator, b the divisor or denominator and the result c is called the quotient.
What's most common (in the context of ...
1
vote
1answer
85 views
Capitalization and hyphenation for prefixed adjectives derived from proper names in mathematics
In mathematics, it often occurs that the last names of famous mathematicians are used as adjectives with mathematical meaning. Most of these adjectives are written with a capital letter. Then, ...
3
votes
2answers
108 views
Is there a term for “distinguishing between different concepts through the use of different, though synonymous, words”?
Background: A friend mentioned that he wanted to organise a board gaming tournament with 21 players. He opined that there ought to be a way to schedule seven 3-player games so that each player plays ...
4
votes
3answers
140 views
Collection of mathematical formulas
What is the correct term for a collection of mathematical formulas in the form of a (small) handbook? I'm looking for a translation of the German noun “Formelsammlung”.
Several dictionarys suggest ...
3
votes
2answers
352 views
“integer multiple” vs. “integral multiple”
Nine is an integer multiple of three.
Nine is an integral multiple of three.
Which is more common?
If both are accepted, what's the subtle difference between them?
8
votes
4answers
1k views
How can I form a word like “quadruple” for any number I want?
I'm not sure what these are called, but how can I form a word like "quadruple" for any number I want? Like 5× as much is quintuple, what is 31× as much or 147× as much? I want to know how they are ...
0
votes
2answers
39 views
“books” vs. “more books”
I have a 2nd-grader and I am trying to help him with his math work but I think I might be making things a lot more complicated than they need to be. The question asks:
Meg needs _ books to have as ...
1
vote
3answers
149 views
Noun form of “umbilical”?
In Differential Geometry (a branch of mathematics) there exists the notion of an umbilical point. Is there a noun corresponding to the adjective umbilical? Could I write something like "It follows by ...
8
votes
4answers
228 views
What is an adjective for a very large negative number?
A number that is very large (but not infinite) such as 1,000,000,000,000,000 could be called huge, enormous, large, big, gigantic, etc.
A number that is very small such as 0.000000001 could be called ...
1
vote
1answer
56 views
Is it appropriate to state a mathematical fact with the word “whenever”?
From time to time, in Math textbook, I encounter the statement using whenever, e.g. on page 12 of Horst Herrlich's Axiom of Choice "A has an upper bound in X whenever each pair of elements of A has an ...
4
votes
2answers
359 views
Why abbreviation for “Definition” as “Def^n” (math context)
I've seen in math and physics lectures delivered in English, that people use to abreviate the commonly very used word "Definition" by "Def n"(Def superscript n). What's the meaning of this n? That is, ...
3
votes
1answer
109 views
Using the word “difference” in the meaning “result of subtraction” taking into account the negative values
The result of subtraction is called "difference". At first glance it might seem that it shouldn't cause an ambiguity over the value denoted by this word; until we stumble upon subtractions that ...
3
votes
5answers
195 views
Alternative to “minuend” and “subtrahend”
In math, I just learned that when performing subtraction, the terms for each number are as follows:
minuend − subtrahend = difference
I have never heard of minuend and subtrahend before, and I'm ...
6
votes
4answers
821 views
How to pronounce “nₒ” properly
People here (Hong Kong) like to pronounce n0 ("n subscript zero") as "N-nor"; "N-zero" seems to be acceptable. I am wondering what's the most popular pronunciation in English.
I am actually a little ...
-3
votes
1answer
473 views
What does “evaluate” mean when used in Mathematical problems? [closed]
When solving Mathematical problems, I usually come across with titles like:
Evaluate the expression below.
Evaluate this: ∜[(log2(48 / 3) + 1)2 - 9]
Evaluate the following integral.
When I ...
3
votes
3answers
2k views
Why is “a 100% increase” the same amount as “a two-fold increase”?
and is such interpretation the norm?
When something went from 4 units to 8 units, most authoritative sources seem to agree with the use of "a two-fold increase", even though what was actually ...
1
vote
1answer
187 views
Abbreviation or expression for ‘we will prove that’ [closed]
In German mathematics, the expression ‘Zu zeigen’ exists, which translates to ‘to show’. It is used at the beginning of proofs (or the answers to exercises) to state what exactly will be shown in the ...
2
votes
2answers
288 views
Hyphens after the prefixes “non-” and “anti-” in mathematics
Is there a convention when to attach the prefixes non- and anti- to mathematical terms using a hyphen and when without?
One uses non-zero but also noncommutative.
Likewise for anti-. I no longer ...
2
votes
2answers
336 views
“Hence”, “therefore” and “so” in mathematical proofs
It seems to me that "so" is seldom used in math proofs. Instead, "hence" and "therefore" are used very often, even repeatedly appearing in several sentences in a row. So I wonder if my feeling is ...
0
votes
3answers
207 views
Five percent VS The five percent [closed]
Five percent VS The five percent.
Which one is correct and why?
Because i.e. this page exists http://www.thetwopercent.com/ or the famous slogan ;) "we are the 99%.".
However, on the official apple ...
1
vote
3answers
766 views
What's the difference between perimeter and circumference? [closed]
What's the difference between perimeter and circumference when they mean the total length of the boundary of a two-dimensional geometric shape?
18
votes
4answers
1k views
Transform or transformation?
Is there a difference between the words transform (noun) and transformation?
Let me describe my problem. I have a mathematical model which I can transform into a better model with help of a data ...
5
votes
3answers
299 views
Why don't years have commas?
For example, if one asks "what's two thousand plus two thousand", one could write it like this:
2,000 + 2,000
But when one writes the date:
January 2, 2000
So why do we put commas when ...
1
vote
4answers
2k views
“Lower number” vs. “smaller number”
Is −9 a smaller number than −8?
And is −9 a lower number than −8?
What is the difference between lower and smaller here?
11
votes
5answers
3k views
Difference between “computation” and “calculation”
If the words computation and calculation are not perfect synonyms what is the difference between them? Which one describes more accurately what is done by a person computing or calculating something ...
0
votes
1answer
86 views
What do you call the maximum number of recent values used for calculating an average [closed]
A sensor measures some physical quantity (like temperature). The measured value is tapped every 100ms or so. An average is calculated over the x most recently measured values. I.e. with every new ...
3
votes
1answer
385 views
“Parametrise” or “parameterise” a curve?
In British English, which one is correct? Does one parameterise a curve or parametrise it?
-4
votes
1answer
160 views
What's the word for the property of being divisible by a particular number? [closed]
Example:
Since x is even (i.e., divisible by 2), its --word-- is true.
Since y is odd, y's --word-- is false.
The description suggests 'moddity', but there was another word for it...
BTW, I ...
2
votes
1answer
166 views
Inverse proportions, but the other way around [closed]
The title sucks, I know... Anyway:
As part of a game I'm making, one of the buildings decreases the time it takes to build other things. Like so:
At level 0: Full time
At level 1: Full time / 2
At ...
3
votes
1answer
152 views
“Both of” vs. just “both” with mathematical symbols
In mathematical writing we use letters to denote the mathematical objects we are writing about. I wonder how to use "both of" in the following phrase:
Both of I and I' are irreducible ideals.
...
9
votes
4answers
2k views
How to read exponential expressions, e.g., “2^16”?
How do you say the mathematical function in English:
x^y (or xy)
For example, how do you say
2^16 (or 216)
I know ^ means 'power' or 'exponentiate', but that is the name of the ...
6
votes
2answers
151 views
word for bringing a number to its absolute value
In mathematics, the absolute value of a number n is either −n if n is negative or n itself if otherwise.
Is there a single word or shorter description for the replacement of n with its absolute ...
2
votes
1answer
667 views
“Nominator” or “Numerator”? [closed]
Consider the fraction 3/7.
In Mathematics, "7" in the expression is called "denominator" of the fraction. But in the case of "3", some people call it "nominator", and some call it "numerator". Which ...
2
votes
2answers
937 views
Should I use hyphens with prefixes like “sub” and “semi”? [duplicate]
Possible Duplicate:
When is it necessary to use a hyphen in writing a compound word?
Some English texts, use the prefix sub put before a given proper word with "-" between them, for ...
6
votes
3answers
488 views
When do we use “suppose” and when “let”?
As a matter of fact, these two words are used a lot in mathematical contexts. Often, we use them interchangeably; but I do realize that that might not be correct. What should I do about this matter? ...
6
votes
2answers
354 views
Etymology of “magma” in abstract algebra
Magma is one of those beautiful words of Greek origin (μάγμα) that arouses the child and the wild in me, making me think of volcanoes. I just found out, though, that it is also used in mathematics to ...
13
votes
1answer
2k views
Trapezium/trapezoid — why are the US/UK definitions swapped around?
These are the US definitions...
Trapezoid — a 4-sided flat shape with straight sides that has a pair of opposite sides parallel.
Trapezium — a 4-sided flat shape with straight sides and NO parallel ...
9
votes
2answers
5k views
Should I use the singular or plural verb in mathematical formulae (“Two and two make/makes four”)?
I remember somebody correcting me once when I said, "Two and two makes four", since the conjunction and would imply the use of a plural verb. They would prefer I said:
Two and two make four.
...
0
votes
2answers
85 views
Explanation of sentence [closed]
I don't understand this sentence.... I know the meaning of all words except distinct... I looked in dictionary.. but I don't understand..:/
Output the number of distinct values when considered MOD ...
6
votes
1answer
129 views
“Commutivity” or “commutativity”
I see commutivity used in contexts where the meaning appears to be the same as commutativity. Here are an example from physics and another example.
Is commutivity incorrect? Does it differ from ...
