The ASVAB test will use different terminology in different question for basic math operations:

It is critical for you to recognize the mathematical operation that must be performed regardless of the term used.

Sum, Add, Addition and the "+" symbol are all the same thing. For example, "add 2 and 2", "sum the digits 2 and 2", 2 + 2, "perform addition with the number 2 and 2". All of these will provide the same answer (4).

Difference, subtraction, and the "-" symbol are the same thing. For example "take the difference between 5 and 3", "perform subtraction on the digits 3 and 5", "5 - 3". All of these will provide the same answer (2).

Product, multiplication, multiply and, depending on the format and font the symbols (*) or "x" are the same. For example: "take the product of 3 and 3", "multiply 3 and 3", "perform multiplication on the numbers 3 and 3", or 3 * 3, or 3 x 3. (the answer is 9).

NOTE: In this course we will use the * symbol to indicate multiplication. This is because the traditional notation of 3 x 3 can get confusing when you put in a variable (an unknown variable) as we usually signify the variable in problems with an "x".

Division and divide and the "/" symbol are the same. For example: "divide 4 by 2", 4 / 2 , and "perform division of the number 4 by the number 2" all provide the same answer (2)

NOTE: In this course we will use the same symbol "/" to indication division and when writing fractions. This is intended as the fraction 1/2 means, "divide 1 by 2".

NOTE: In some cases, we may write the division symbol like this, depending on the module of the course: