Useful Mathematics Vocabulary
Please find below a list of some of the vocabulary and terminology used in our numeracy
lessons which we hope you will find useful.
Term/Phrase
Digit
Definition/Explanation
Any of the numbers from 0 to 9.
Example:
The second digit of 45 is 5.
Place value
Teachers also talk about ‘single digit’ ‘two digit’ or ‘three digit’
numbers.
The value of a digit is determined by its place in a number.
Number
bonds
Number
sentence
Another commonly used phrase which means all pairs of numbers
which add up to a specific number such as 10, 20 or 100.
This means a simple calculation recorded with numbers and
symbols.
Doubles and
halves
In year 1, children are expected to be able to double numbers to
10 and then begin to use this knowledge to halve numbers.
Number line
The children are encouraged to use lines with counting numbers
underneath as a way of recognising and understanding
relationships between numbers (e.g. that 5 is in-between 4 and 6
or 10 is a smaller number than 11).
24 is a two digit number.
587 is a three digit number etc.
The place value of 2 in 27 is 20.
The place value of 2 in 278 is 200.
Number bonds of 10 =
0+10, 1+9, 2+8, 3+7 etc.
5+5=10 or 10-3=7
“Five add five equals 10”
“Ten take away/minus three equals 7”.
Double 5 = 10 or
5+5 =10 or
2 lots of 5=10
Half of 10 = 5 etc.
Which numbers are missing?
It is also used as way of calculating, for example, children use
number lines when adding or subtracting by jumping along or
back on the numbered line.
Children will also be encouraged to use/imagine a blank number
line to support developing mental counting skills.
11
14
16
Solve 14+3
14 15 16 17 18 19 20
If I am on number 9 on the number line which will be
the 10th multiple/number?
9
Grouping
Arrays
When objects are collected into ‘groups of a given value.
This supports counting in groups of 2s/5s/10s.
Used in multiplication (Summer term of Year 1)
A collection of objects in columns and rows. Arrays are
used to support children in understanding grouping/multiplication.
2 groups of 4 = 8
Later this would lead to understanding and reading
the number sentence:
2 x 4 = 8/4 x 2 = 8
4 lots of 3 heads
Or 3 lots of 4 heads
4 x 3 = 12
SHAPE
Two Dimensional (2D) Shapes
Rectangle
A flat (or 2d) shape with 4 sides and 4 corners. The opposite
sides are the same length.
Typical questions and visual examples…
Can you see this shape in our classroom?
Triangle
A flat (or 2d) shape with 3 sides and 3 corners.
Have all triangles got 3 sides?
Circle
A flat (or 2d) shape with 1 curved, never ending side and no
corners.
How is this shape different to a square?
Square
A flat (or 2d) shape with 4 sides and 4 corners and where all
the sides are the same length.
A square is a special kind of rectangle.
What makes a square a square?
Hexagon
A flat (or 2d) shape with 6 sides and 6 corners.
What are these shapes called?
Pentagon
A flat (or 2d) shape with 5 sides and 5 corners.
How many sides have these shapes got?
Corner
A point where surfaces meet.
How many corners has this shape got?
Three Dimensional Shapes (3D)
Face
Any of the individual surfaces of a solid object.
Typical questions and visual examples…
How many faces does a cylinder have?
Edge
How many edges does a cube have?
Where 2 surfaces join
Cuboid
A solid (or 3d) shape with 6 rectangular faces. Cuboids have
12 edges and 8 corners too.
What shapes are the faces of this shape?
Cube
A solid (or 3d) shape with square faces which are all the
same size. Cubes have 6 faces, 12 edges and 8 corners.
Is this shape flat or solid?
Cylinder
A solid (or 3d) shape with 2 flat, circular faces, 1 curved
surface and no corners.
What can you tell me about this shape?
Cone
A solid (or 3d) shape with a circular base and a curved
surface which tapers to a point.
Would this shape roll or side down a hill?
Sphere
A ball like solid shape with a curved surface.
What shape is a football?
Square based
pyramid (begin
to know)
A solid (or 3d) shape with a 5 flat faces, a square shaped
base and 4 triangular faces which taper to a point.
Which shape is the base of this pyramid?
Triangular
based pyramid
(begin to know)
A solid (or 3d) shape with 4 faces, a flat, triangular base
and triangular faces which taper to a point.
How is this pyramid different to one with a square base?
Triangular
prism (begin to
know)
A solid object that has two identical triangular ends and flat
sides.
Why is this shape like a stretched out triangle?