You don't say "Chemistries", do you?
Or "Calculuses" (Calculi?)?
Or "Algebras"?
Or "Psychologies"?
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Anonymous2009-03-12 16:04
It is often shortened to math in English-speaking North America and maths elsewhere.
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Anonymous2009-03-12 16:32
Math is a general study, like science.
For instance, chemistry is a science, as well as biology, physics, geology, etc... Together, they are the Sciences.
Now let's look at math. Algebra is a branch of math, and so is calculus, geometry, logic, statistics, combinatorial and discrete math, etc... They are all separate fields of math, and together they make up the Maths.
Stop being a dillhole.
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Anonymous2009-03-12 16:41
>>3
I've never even heard britfags say "sciences".
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Anonymous2009-03-12 17:06
>> Or "Algebras"?
Not sure if troll...
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Anonymous2009-03-12 20:25
It's the shortened form of "Mathematics." Makes sense.
You're trying to make sense of the English language.
The question isn't "why is it 'Mathematics' instead of 'Mathematic,'" or "why isn't it 'Chemistries' instead of 'Chemistry'." That's just the way things are.
American here. I will say that "maths" is technically more correct, though I prefer saying "math."
Because 'chemistry' is the name of the subject, and not, as in 'mathematics' the plural of the things about which the subject is concerned. It would be similar to calling chemistry 'reactions'.
It's a very old usage, but it was used to name things like E=mc2, V=pi.r2, etc. Another word for an equation, or mathematical relationship. The plural being all of these or the subject as a whole.
OP, yes, we do. I suggest not arguing with any averagely educated Brits about this; their English skills far outstrip any averagely educated Americans.
Plural of calculus = calculi, algebra doesn't have an everyday plural in English since it's Arabic (the standard plural of this type of Arabic noun would be of the sort al-Jebrát), psychology = psychologies.
I'm with you OP, I always find it weird when people say maths.
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Anonymous2009-03-15 11:10
Because the area of research is called "mathematics", you should use "maths" as a shorthand.
If the area were named "mathematic" then "math" would be an appropriate shorthand.
Calling it "math" 'just because it is a convention' is a silly thing to do. Especially mathematicians themselves, who should value logical thinking above everything else should stick to calling it "maths". That is, only those mathematicians who actually care about stuff like this. I don't care whether or not people call it maths or math, but I do care about people who make a fuzz out of this and subsequently try to convince people to use the actual WRONG shorthand, only because they themselves are not used to the RIGHT shorthand.
While I've become accustomed to Math I understand why people would say Maths. I wouldn't say this debate will change people's perceptions as they've become accustomed to saying things a certain way, and unless you physically beat them senseless they'll seldom change their ways.
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Anonymous2009-03-17 16:53
>>30
>unless you physically beat them senseless they'll seldom change their ways.
Alright, let's do that then.
All "maths" fags, post your addresses ITT so I can come over and whoop you.
I use Maths and I live at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue in Washington D.C.. Just tell the guys at the front door that you've come to beat the nigger. They'll help you out with the rest