Math+Phraseology

Please visit this wiki often. Add phraseology information that we can all encourage our colleagues to use properly when teaching math. Additionally, please edit each others' entries to maintain accuracy.

One hundred and four is incorrect. When "and" is used it indicated a decimal point. 100.4 Proper reading and writing would leave out “and”, one hundred four. ||
 * =Proper Mathematical Phrase= || =Examples of Use= ||
 * The truth about "and" || When reading and writing whole numbers do not use the word "and"
 * 12-15: Yes, you CAN do it! || Many times when we are teaching a child how to subtract, we tell them you can't subtract 15 from 12. The reality is you can, but typically the child is not ready for negative numbers. I think this leads to confusion with some students at the secondary level when we are asking them to subtract and get a negative number. Instead of telling them you can't, let's try to **explain** why 12-15 is not 3, or tell them they can do that, but it is not 3. ||
 * equation vs. expression || An expression does not have an equal sign. An equation does. Just like expressions and complete sentences in English. An expression is a thought whereas an equation is a sentence. ||
 * decimal numbers || To help make the connections between .5 and 1/2 etc. Read decimal numbers in their fractional form as much as possible. 3.5 can easily be read "three and five tenths", whereas 3.498743 would be much more challenging and most likely cause more confusion. 7.25, "seven and 25 hundredths" and 8.33333... as "eight and one third". Look for opportunities to make connections. ||
 * minus || There is no mathematical operation called "minus". Please us "subtract". Thank you. ||
 * divisibility || Numbers do not divide into other numbers "evenly". They can divide into numbers with or without remainder. This becomes increasingly important as students learn about decimal numbers and factors. ||