Math

📖 In short

Mathematics is the science of numbers, shapes and patterns. We use it to count, measure, calculate and solve problems. It's everywhere around us: in clocks, money, cooking, building, and even music and games!

🤩 Did you know?

The Greek Pythagoras discovered a famous rule about right triangles.
There are 60 minutes in an hour because of the ancient Babylonian system.
The ancient Egyptians used mathematics thousands of years ago.
Computer scientists need mathematics a lot.

🔎 Find out more

🌟 Branches of mathematics

Mathematics has many branches: arithmetic studies numbers and operations, geometry studies shapes, algebra uses symbols to solve problems, and statistics gathers information and draws it.

🔍 Ancient mathematics

The ancient Egyptians used mathematics to build the pyramids and measure fields, and the Babylonians used a system based on the number 60, which is why there are 60 minutes in an hour!

💡 Al-Khwarizmi and algebra

More than a thousand years ago the Muslim scholar al-Khwarizmi wrote an important book, and from its title comes the word “algebra” (al-jabr), used all over the world today.

🎯 Maths is fun

Maths isn't just numbers, it's puzzles, challenges and patterns. Try to spot patterns around you: in flower petals, in decorations and in the times table.

📸 More pictures

🧩 Test yourself

1 Which Muslim scholar does the word “algebra” come from?

2 Why are there 60 minutes in an hour?

3 There are ?? minutes in an hour because of the ancient Babylonian system.

4 Which picture shows “Math”?