9 In Italian, it is the opposite: commas are used to separate units from decimals and points for thousands, millions, billions. All mathematical operations use the symbol =, which is read equals. Minus is pronounced / ma n s/. There is an exception when 1 2 you read . How is it read? READING NUMBERS AND FORMULAE Reading numbers In the English numbering system, points are used to separate decimals from units, while commas are used to indicate thousands, millions, billions, and so on . 2.5: two point five; 1,398: one thousand three hundred and ninety-eight Decimal numbers are read separately, even though there are more than one after the point. 3.14: three point one four When talking about money, figures after the point are read like normal numbers. £ 16.50: sixteen pounds fifty Number zero is usually read nought before a decimal point, and oh after a decimal point. However, when talking about temperatures, it is read zero. 0.2304: nought point two three oh four Water freezes at 0°C (zero degrees centigrade). Mathematical symbols and operations Sum: the symbol used is plus (+). 25+15=40: twenty-five plus fifteen equals forty Subtraction: the symbol used is minus ( ). 100 35=65: one hundred minus thirtyfive equals sixty-five Multiplication: the symbols used ( or .) are read times (or multiplied by). 20 4=80: twenty times four equals eighty Division: the symbols used (: or ) are read divided by. 24 2=12: twenty-four divided by two equals twelve Exponentiation. A number is: squared when it is raised to the power of two; 32: three exponent squared, b2: b squared cubed when it base is raised to the power of three; 43: four cubed, n3: n cubed to the power of when it is raised to the power of any other number. 104: ten to the power of four; xn: x to the power of n 5 3 Fractions are made up of a numerator, which is above the fraction bar and read as a cardinal number, and a denominator, which is read as an ordinal number: 1 3 7 : one third, : three quarters, : 3 4 8 seven eighths. When the fraction is made of symbols, the word over is used. V : V over t t Percentage. The symbol % is read percent. The power loss is estimated around 2% (two percent). FRACTIONS exponentiation: elevamento a potenza fraction bar: linea di frazione to raise to the power: elevare a potenza 30 COMMON GROUND one whole one half one third one quarter one fifth one sixth one seventh one eighth one ninth one tenth one eleventh one twelfth