ELI5: Explain Like I'm 5

Elementary mathematics

Elementary mathematics is the type of math that you start learning when you're very young, like in kindergarten or first grade. It's all about learning the basics of numbers and counting.

You learn about numbers, like 1, 2, 3, 4, and so on. You also learn how to count things, like counting how many cookies are on a plate or how many toys you have.

You learn how to use symbols like plus (+) and minus (-) signs to add and subtract numbers. For example, if you have 3 toys and you get 1 more toy, you add them together by putting a plus sign between them: 3 + 1 = 4.

You also learn about shapes, like triangles, circles, squares, and rectangles. You learn how to identify them and how to tell them apart.

As you get older, you'll learn more complex things like multiplication and division, fractions, decimals, and algebra. But it all builds on the things you learn in elementary mathematics. It's important to have a good foundation in elementary math so that you can understand these more advanced concepts later on.