MATH GUIDELINES

US SPECIFIC - MATH TERMINOLOGY

Math Terminology Alterations for the US Audience

Under this section, please replace these mathematical terms with the alternate vocabulary as utilized
by students in the US.

Please Note: BLANKET STATEMENT

There are language specific words provided across the document.
For example:
Replace Half an hour with Half hour - this indicates that ‘Half Hour’ needs to be used instead of
‘Half an Hour’. Additionally, all the words mentioned after the word ‘Replace’ are what is used in
the Indian context and the word or words that are mentioned after ‘with’ are related to the
American equivalent of the same word or phrase..

1. Any occurrence of cuboid should be replaced with rectangular prism.

2. Any occurrence of semi-circle should be replaced with half-circle.
3. In fractions or division, ⅔ is 2 OVER 3 and NOT 2 BY 3.
4. Replace breadth(b) with width (w).
5. Side of a cube is represented by the letter s instead of the letter a.
6. Replace units place/digit with ones place/digit.
7. 3 x 2: is three times two and is NOT 2 taken 3 times.
8. Make sure the word for ‘✕’ in 2 ✕ 4 is TIMES and not INTO.
9. American usage puts the month first, followed by the day, and then the
year. Hence, 12/5/2010 means December 5, 2010, in American usage. Also
- May 21st not 21st May.
10. Use 12/5/2010 instead of 5/12/2010 (Dec 5)
11. The word symmetric would be symmetrical in all cases.
12. Use “spoonfuls” in the place of number of spoons of something added.
13. Use the word ‘DOLLAR BILLS’ not ‘MONEY BILLS’ or ‘DOLLAR NOTES’.
14. Do not use the word ‘’RUBIK’S CUBE” - use ‘‘3D cube’’ instead.
15. Use parentheses instead of brackets.
16. Use PEMDAS instead of BODMAS.
17. Replace litre with liter, metre with meter.(Spelling)
 Ex: Replace centimetre and millilitre with centimeter and milliliter
respectively.

21. Time is written as: 12 a.m. and 5 p.m.

22. Don’t use the term debonding/bonding. Instead, say
decomposing/composing
23. Replace right-angled triangle with right triangle.
24. Replace Acute-angled triangle with Acute triangle
25. Replace Obtuse-angled triangle with Obtuse triangle
26. Liter is abbreviated as L, Milliliter is abbreviated as mL and so on as per US
convention.
27. Replace Greater than with Larger than
28. Replace Less than with Smaller than
29. Replace Mixed Fraction with Mixed Number
30. Replace Anti-clockwise with Counter-clockwise

31. Replace Half an hour with Half hour

32. Replace Pythagoras theorem with Pythagorean theorem
33. Replace Exponent with Power/indices
34. Replace Factorising with Factoring
35. Replace Notes (Currency) with Bills
36. Take care about the comma placement in numbers- A comma is placed
every third digit to the left of the decimal point and so is used in numbers
with four or more digits. Continue to place a comma after every third digit.

For example: $1,000,000 (one million dollars).

38. Replace HCF(Highest Common Factor) with GCF(Greatest Common

Factor).

Math Conceptual / Definition Changes:

The topics in the following section have a different definition in US and India. Beyond a
simple change of words, we will have to look deeper at the content and ensure that the
explanations are as per the definition.

1. Trapezoid is used in the US: A trapezoid is a four-sided closed 2D figure with two
sides of a trapezoid parallel to each other and are termed as the bases of the
trapezoid. The non-parallel sides are known as the legs or lateral sides of a
 trapezoid. The shortest distance between two parallel sides is known as the
altitude.

Trapezium (commonly used in India): A trapezium is a quadrilateral with at least

one pair of parallel sides. The parallel sides are called bases and the other two
sides are called the legs or the lateral sides.

2. For 3D shapes (INDIA):

Sphere: 1 curved face, no vertices and no edges.

Cone: 1 curved face, 1 curved edge and 1 corner/vertex.

Cylinder: 1 curved face, 2 flat faces, 2 curved edges and no vertices.

For 3D shapes (US):

Do not use the term “curved edge.”

Vertices are used more often when compared to corners.

Cylinder:

1) It has no corners. It has two flat circular faces and a curved surface.

2) It has no corners. It has two flat circular faces and a curved surface. Where its
two flat faces and curved surface meet, it makes two circles

Cone:

1) A cone has only one flat face, and one curved surface.

2) A cone has only one apex or corner point.

Sphere:

1) It has no corners.

2) It has 1 curved surface.

Unit Conversions:
 In solved problems and examples, the units have to be changed in question and
solutions. Units have to be changed to relevant units as given in the table below.
Numbers may also have to be changed on a case by case basis to make the
problems relevant.

India (SI) to US- unit conversion

India/SI
Celsius (°C)
Kilometre (km)
kilometres per hour (kmph)
metre(m), centimetre (cm)
Kilogram (kg), gram (g)
Litre (L), millilitre (mL)
Rupees (₹), bucks
Lakhs, Crores
US/Customary
Fahrenheit (°F)
Mile (mi)
miles per hour (mph)
Inch (“), feet (ft), yard (yd)
Pounds (lb), Ounces (oz)
Gallons (Ga), Fluid Ounces (fl oz), cups
Dollars ($), bucks
Millions, Billions

Ex:
FORMULAE as per US convention
Area of square = s²
Area of rectangle = l × w
Perimeter of square = 4s
Perimeter of rectangle = 2 (l + w)

Lateral / Curved
Name of the Solid Surface Area Total Surface Area Volume

Rectangular 2h (l + w) 2 (lw + wh + hl) l×w×h

Prism
 Cube 4s² 6s² s³

Units of Length
US India
1 inch = 2.54 centimetres 1 cm = 0.3938 inches
1 yard = 0.9144 m 1 m = 1.093 yards
1 mile = 1.609 km 1 km = 0.6213 miles
1 nautical mile = 1.852 km 1 km = 0.5399 nautical miles
1 fathom (6 feet) = 1.828 m 1 m = 0.5468 fathoms
1 mile = 5280 feet 1 nautical mile = 6076.16 feet

Units of Weight
US India
1 ounce = 28.349 grams 1 gram = 0.03527 ounces
1 pound = 453.592 grams 1 kilogram = 2.204 pounds
1 bale (cotton in India) = 170 kilograms

Units of Volume
1 gallon = 3.785 liters 1 litre = 0.264 gallons
1 liter = 1000 cubic centimeters 1 cc = 0.001 liter
1 barrel (oil) = 158.99 liters 1 barrel = 42 US gallons
1 ounce = 29.573 milliliters 1 cup = 240 milliliters
1 pint = 473.175 milliliters 1 quart = 946.353 milliliters

Units of Area
1 acre = 4046.85 square meters 1 square meter = 0.000247 acres
1 hectare = 10,000 square meters 1 square meter = 0.0001 hectare
 Currency
₹75 = 1$

Language Changes:

In this section common words in the Indian vocabulary will have to be altered to match
the vocabulary common to English speakers in the United States.

1. Replace petrol with gas

2. Replace the term “nothing but” with “is the same as”
3. Replace Brinjal with Eggplant
4. Replace Lady's finger with Okra
5. Replace Capsicum with Bell pepper
6. Replace Class with Grade
7. Replace Shed/shelter with Barn
8. Replace Cutlery with Silverware
9. Replace Petrol with Gasoline
10. Replace Phone booth with Payphone
11. Replace Tyre with Tire
12. Replace Grey with Gray
13. Replace French fries with Fries/French fries
14. Replace Analysed with Analyzed
15. Replace Theatre with Theater
16. Replace Learnt with Learned
17. Replace Colour with Color
18. Replace Organise with Organize
19. Replace Labelled with Labeled
20. Replace Travelled with Traveled
21. Replace Centre with Center
22. Replace Finalise with Finalize
23. Replace Aluminium with Aluminum
24. Replace Favourite with Favorite
25. Replace Favourable with Favorable
26. Replace Flavour with Flavor
27. Replace Neighbour with Neighbor
28. Replace Fulfil with Fulfill
29. Replace Litre with Liter
30. Replace Behaviour with Behavior
31. Replace Mathematics/Maths with Math
32. Replace Helicopter with Chopper
33. Replace Metro with Subway
34. Replace Truck with Lorry
35. Replace Biscuit with Cookie
36. Replace Aeroplane with Airplane
37. Replace Cheque with Check
38. Replace Flat with Apartment
39. Replace Chemist with Pharmacy
40. Replace Bonnet with Hood
41. Replace Boot with Trunk
42. Replace Indicator with Blinker
43. Replace Takeaway with Takeout
44. Replace Rubber with Eraser
45. Replace Lift with Elevator
46. Replace Torch with Flashlight
47. Replace Bin with Trash can
48. Replace Football with Soccer
49. Replace X and O with Tic-Tac-withe
50. Replace Highway with Highway
51. Replace Footpath with Sidewalk
52. Replace Zebra crossing with Crosswalk
53. Replace Full stop with Period
54. Replace Pin code with Zip code
55. Replace Flyover with Overpass
56. Replace Parking lot with Parking lot
57. Replace Cellotape or Sellotape with Tape or Scotch Tape
58. Replace Earbuds with Q-tips
59. Replace Cold drinks/Soft drinks with Soft drink/soda
60. Replace Toy shop with Toy store
61. Replace Coriander with Cilantro
62. Replace Sofa with Couch
63. Replace Pyjamas with Pajamas
64. Replace Ice candies with Popsicles
65. Replace Passengers with Travelers
66. Replace Honour with Honor
67. Replace Generalise with Generalize
68. Replace Visualise with Visualize
69. Replace Labour with Labor
70. Replace Maximise with Maximize
71. Replace Plough with Plow
72. Replace Levelled with Leveled
73. Replace Towards with Toward
74. Replace Grill with Broil
75. Replace Snakes and ladders with Chutes and ladders
76. Replace Cot with Crib
77. Replace Trolley with Cart
78. Replace Postbox with Mailbox
79. Replace Oven glove with Oven mitt
80. Replace pram with stroller
81. Replace Bicycle with Bike
82. Replace Trousers/Pants with Pants
83. Replace Radicals with Surds
84. Replace Match with Game
85. Replace Petrol pump with Gas station
86. Replace Pen drive with Flash drive
87. Replace -ise with -ize. E.g. Replace maximise with maximize
88. Replace -our with -or. E.g. Replace colour with color, favour with favor etc.