Sorry, I didn't give any context. I think my question is mainly about school. What sort of calculation do pupils at school do when doing sums?We need more context to be sure.
Subtractions and the like included? Not only addition? I've looked up in a dictionary but I can't understand this dictionary definition. It goes as "To do a sum is to calculate something". But also "a total amount made by addingseveral numbers or amounts together".Informally, if you 'do the sums', you do the calculations necessary to find some form of result. These calculations usually involve some sort of mathematical operations..
I think I've got it but am not sure. Division, subtraction and so on are forms of sums, right?
(Collins Concise English Dictionary)sum n
- one or more columns or rows of numbers to be added, subtracted, multiplied, or divided
Robert has supplied the American meaning. It means something else in British English."to do sums" means to "sum up". This involves addition and subtraction, not the other operations. For example: add the amount of money taken in and subtract the amount going out.
Addition and subtraction only, regardless of dictionaries. Subtraction is the addition of a negative number.
Lizzie (Mountbatten-)Windsor is infallible.