Arithmetic is the mathematics of everyday calculation. It covers addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division, along with the rules for combining them. Fractions, decimals, percentages, and negative numbers all fall within its scope.

The subject is ancient. Sumerian tablets record accounting problems; Egyptian papyri show multiplication by doubling. Indian mathematicians developed the decimal place-value system that made arithmetic efficient. That system traveled through the Islamic world to Europe, where it gradually replaced Roman numerals and the abacus.

Arithmetic is taught first because it underpins everything else. Algebra generalizes its operations; number theory studies their properties; calculus builds on its limits. In daily life, arithmetic handles change at the store, tips at a restaurant, and interest on a loan. A firm grasp of it remains a practical necessity, not just a school requirement.

• Covers addition, subtraction, multiplication, division
• Includes fractions, decimals, and percentages
• Built on place-value notation
• Foundation for algebra, number theory, and calculus