What Does "sum" Mean in Math?
Last Updated Apr 2, 2020 11:57:41 PM ET
In mathematics, adding numbers, items or amounts produces a sum. The word also refers to a group of arithmetic problems given as a classroom assignment. As a verb, to sum is to find the total of added amounts.
Sum can be used to describe a particular total, as in the sentence "He paid a huge sum of money." It can also be used to describe an indefinite amount or series of amounts, as exampled by the sentence "She deposited several small sums." Sum also refers to a whole formed from two or more parts and summarizing, or summing up, means to make a concise statement of the gist of a matter.
More From Reference
Will 5G Impact Our Cell Phone Plans (or Our Health?!)
The Secret Science of Solving Crossword Puzzles
Racist Phrases to Remove From Your Mental Lexicon
Is the Coronavirus Crisis Increasing America's Drug Overdoses?
Fact Check: What Power Does the President Really Have Over State Governors?
Festival of Sacrifice: The Past and Present of the Islamic Holiday of Eid al-Adha