This section covers the French terms for various mathematical operations, organized by category.
Basic Operations
These are the fundamental operations used in most arithmetic calculations.
| French Singular | French Plural | English Singular | English Plural | Description |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| addition | additions | addition | additions | Combining two numbers to get a sum. |
| soustraction | soustractions | subtraction | subtractions | Taking one number away from another. |
| multiplication | multiplications | multiplication | multiplications | Repeated addition of a number. |
| division | divisions | division | divisions | Splitting a number into equal parts. |
Advanced Operations
These operations are used in more complex mathematical contexts.
| French Singular | French Plural | English Singular | English Plural | Description |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| exponentiation | exponentiations | exponentiation | exponentiations | Raising a number to the power of another. |
| racine carrée | racines carrées | square root | square roots | Finding a number which, when squared, gives the original number. |
| logarithme | logarithmes | logarithm | logarithms | The inverse operation of exponentiation. |
Calculus Operations
These terms are used in calculus, a branch of mathematics dealing with change and motion.
| French Singular | French Plural | English Singular | English Plural | Description |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| dérivée | dérivées | derivative | derivatives | Measures the rate of change of a function. |
| intégrale | intégrales | integral | integrals | Represents the area under a curve. |
| limite | limites | limit | limits | Describes the value a function approaches. |
Algebraic Operations
These operations are commonly used in algebra, involving variables and equations.
| French Singular | French Plural | English Singular | English Plural | Description |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| factorisation | factorisations | factorization | factorizations | Breaking down an expression into products. |
| expansion | expansions | expansion | expansions | Multiplying out expressions. |
| simplification | simplifications | simplification | simplifications | Reducing expressions to simpler forms. |
Which French word completes the sentence about breaking down an expression into products?\n\n« La \_\_\_ décompose une expression en facteurs. »
factorisation
Factorization (factorisation in French) breaks down an expression into products.
Set Theory Operations
These are used in set theory, a branch of mathematical logic dealing with collections of objects.
| French Singular | French Plural | English Singular | English Plural | Description |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| union | unions | union | unions | Combining all elements from two sets. |
| intersection | intersections | intersection | intersections | Elements common to both sets. |
| complément | compléments | complement | complements | Elements not in the given set. |
Programming Operations
These operations are commonly used in computer programming and algorithm design.
| French Singular | French Plural | English Singular | English Plural | Description |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| affectation | affectations | assignment | assignments | Setting a variable to a value. |
| incrémentation | incrémentations | increment | increments | Increasing a value by one. |
| décrémentation | décrémentations | decrement | decrements | Decreasing a value by one. |
| modulo | modulos | modulo | moduli | Remainder after division of integers. |
Which French word describes decreasing a value by one?\n\n« La \_\_\_ diminue la valeur de un. »
décrémentation
Decrement (décrémentation in French) decreases a value by one.
Which French word completes the sentence about setting a variable to a value?\n\n« L’\_\_\_ affecte une valeur à une variable. »
affectation
Assignment (affectation in French) sets a variable to a value.
Other Mathematical Operations
These are additional operations that appear in various areas of mathematics.
| French Singular | French Plural | English Singular | English Plural | Description |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| permutation | permutations | permutation | permutations | Rearranging elements in order. |
| combinaison | combinaisons | combination | combinations | Selecting elements without regard to order. |
| symétrie | symétries | symmetry | symmetries | Balanced arrangement of elements. |
These categories cover the most common mathematical operations you’ll encounter in French.
Flashcards (1 of 23)
- Description: Combining two numbers to get a sum.
- English Singular: addition
- English Plural: additions
Last updated: Wed Jun 18, 2025
