Math Terms for the Four Operations
Teachers and word problems use special names for the numbers in a calculation. A child who knows that "product" means the answer to a multiplication can solve "find the product of 6 and 7" without help.
The names of the numbers
- Addition: 34 + 28 = 62. 34 and 28 are addends, 62 is the sum.
- Subtraction: 85 − 37 = 48. 85 is the minuend, 37 the subtrahend, 48 the difference.
- Multiplication: 6 × 7 = 42. 6 and 7 are factors, 42 is the product.
- Division: 56 ÷ 8 = 7. 56 is the dividend, 8 the divisor, 7 the quotient.
Word problem clues
- "Find the sum", "in all", "altogether": add.
- "Find the difference", "how many more", "how many fewer": subtract.
- "Find the product", "times", "groups of": multiply.
- "Find the quotient", "share equally", "how many in each": divide.
What is the difference of 85 and 37?
- "Difference" is the answer to a subtraction.
- 85 − 37 = 48.
Answer: 48
The product is 42 and one factor is 6. What is the other factor?
- Product means multiplication: 6 × ? = 42.
- 42 ÷ 6 = 7.
Answer: 7
Examples
Sum of 34 + 28
Difference of 85 − 37
Practice problems with answers
Solve these problems on paper or out loud, then check the answer key. The online practice and the printable worksheet give a new set every time.
- Sum of 29 + 33 = ___
- Difference of 81 − 42 = ___
- Difference of 35 − 12 = ___
- Sum of 28 + 35 = ___
- Difference of 55 − 16 = ___
- Difference of 68 − 15 = ___
- Difference of 32 − 27 = ___
- Sum of 23 + 47 = ___
Show answers
- 62
- 39
- 23
- 63
- 39
- 53
- 5
- 70
Common mistakes
- Reading "difference" as "different" and adding instead of subtracting.
- Mixing up product and sum: the product of 3 and 4 is 12, the sum is 7.
- Swapping dividend and divisor in a division.
Questions parents ask
Do children need words like minuend and subtrahend?
Sum, difference, product and quotient matter most, because word problems use them. Minuend and subtrahend appear in some curricula and help to talk about subtraction precisely.
Does the order of the numbers change the answer?
Not for addition and multiplication: 6 × 7 = 7 × 6. For subtraction and division it does: 85 − 37 is not the same as 37 − 85.
Times Divide
Multiplication and division worksheets that follow what the child has already solved.
The app does not generate PDF sheets at random. It uses the child’s previous results, including offline sheets, so the next practice can focus on what still needs work.
- Generate printable PDFs from the child’s history.
- Enter solved offline sheets quickly after practice.
- The app shows each answer; you mark it correct or not.
Scan with a phone to open Google Play