What is mathematics?

Mathematics maybe makes you think of arithmetic, but it’s much more than that.

Mathematics is the study of numbers, patterns and structures. So mathematics is also about distances, shapes, ratios and perspective.

The word ‘mathematics’ comes from the ancient Greek word ‘máthēma’. ‘Máthēma’ means ‘what one learns’ or ‘what one gets to know’. So, according to the ancient Greeks, to learn about the world around you, mathematics is of the utmost importance.