Subject: Re: [HM] "maths" in lieu of "math"
From: Larvor (B.P.Larvor@herts.ac.uk)
Date: Tue Mar 28 2000 - 09:31:28 EST
>
> I apologize for the trivial nature of this question, but my curiosity
> has gotten the better of me. I do not recall ever seeing the expression
> "maths" in lieu of "math." for "mathematics" in print nor seeing it at
> all until I started following the history of mathematics email lists.
> When did this expression originate?
>
The proper question is why anyone would abbreviate 'mathematics' (plural)
with 'math' (singular). An answer I have heard is that many New England
settlers were of Dutch or German origin, and these found the 'ths' sound
unpronouncible. Epistemological caveat: I heard this in a pub.
Dr. Brendan Larvor
University of Hertfordshire
(01707) 28-5659
http://www.herts.ac.uk/humanities/philosophy/bl.html
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