How to Read Mathematical Expressions Aloud
Learn the correct English pronunciation for common math formulas and symbols. Click 🔉 to hear each expression.
Basic Arithmetic
2 + 3 = 5
Two plus three equals five or … is equal to five
7 − 3 = 4
Seven minus three equals four or … three from seven leaves four
4 × 3 = 12
Four times three equals twelve or … four multiplied by three is twelve
20 ÷ 4 = 5
Twenty divided by four equals five or … four into twenty goes five
5 + 3 ≠ 7
Five plus three is not equal to seven
Fractions & Decimals
½
One half or … a half
¾
Three quarters
2/3
Two thirds or … two over three … two divided by three
3.14
Three point one four read each digit after the decimal point individually
0.5%
Zero point five percent or … nought point five percent
Powers & Roots
5²
Five squared or … five to the power of two
2³
Two cubed or … two to the power of three
2⁵
Two to the power of five or … two to the fifth
√16 = 4
The square root of sixteen is four
∛27 = 3
The cube root of twenty-seven is three
Algebra
x + 2 = 7
x plus two equals seven or … x add two is seven
2x + 3 = 11
Two x plus three equals eleven or … two times x add three equals eleven
x² − 4 = 0
x squared minus four equals zero
x = (−b ± √Δ) / 2a
x equals minus b plus or minus the square root of Delta, all over two a
f(x) = x² + 1
f of x equals x squared plus one or … the function f of x is x squared plus one
Tip: In algebra, 2x is read "two x" or "two times x". The multiplication is implied — we rarely say "two multiplied by x".
Parentheses & Grouping
(2 + 3) × 4
Open bracket, two plus three, close bracket, times four or … bracket two plus three bracket times four
{x : x > 0}
The set of all x such that x is greater than zero read the colon as "such that"
[0, ∞)
The interval from zero to infinity, inclusive of zero square bracket = inclusive, round bracket = exclusive
Tip: For nested parentheses, say "open bracket" / "close bracket". For deep nesting: "open square bracket", "open curly bracket" to distinguish levels.
Calculus & Advanced Notation
dy/dx
dee y by dee x or … the derivative of y with respect to x
∫₀¹ x² dx
The integral from zero to one of x squared, dee x
lim x→0 sin x / x = 1
The limit as x approaches zero of sine x over x equals one
Σᵢ₌₁ⁿ i = n(n+1)/2
The sum from i equals one to n of i equals n times n plus one over two
Common Greek Letters in Formulas
| Greek Letter | Read As | Used In | Listen |
|---|---|---|---|
| α | alpha | Angles, coefficients | |
| β | beta | Angles, regression | |
| Δ | delta | Change, discriminant (capital) | |
| δ | delta | Small change (lowercase) | |
| θ | theta | Angles, polar coordinates | |
| λ | lambda | Eigenvalues, wavelength | |
| μ | mu | Mean, coefficient | |
| π | pi | Circle constant ≈ 3.14159 | |
| ρ | rho | Density, correlation | |
| σ | sigma | Standard deviation | |
| φ | phi | Golden ratio, totient | |
| ω | omega | Angular velocity |
Tip: Most Greek letters keep their English pronunciation in formulas. The letter π is always "pie" (not "pee").