as in math
the act or process of performing mathematical operations to find a value
I haven't actually done the arithmetic yet, but I suspect we're losing money on the deal
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Recent Examples of arithmetic
The incoming administration will face stark fiscal arithmetic: Most federal dollars go to direct transfers to Americans, disproportionately located in the very places that propelled President-elect Trump back to the White House.
—
Kristal Dixon, Axios, 2 Dec. 2024
The arithmetic is unforgiving: Even substantial tax increases cannot satiate this growing appetite.
—Yaakov Katz, Newsweek, 27 Nov. 2024
Lin and other experts said officials ensure the accuracy of an election’s basic arithmetic, for example, by checking that the number of ballots matches the number of voters, but they are not empowered to undertake deeper investigations.
—Phoebe Petrovic, ProPublica, 30 Oct. 2024
Of course, the brain didn’t evolve to perform arithmetic.
—IEEE Spectrum, 31 May 2017
See all Example Sentences for arithmetic 
Kristal Dixon, Axios, 2 Dec. 2024
The arithmetic is unforgiving: Even substantial tax increases cannot satiate this growing appetite.
—Yaakov Katz, Newsweek, 27 Nov. 2024
Lin and other experts said officials ensure the accuracy of an election’s basic arithmetic, for example, by checking that the number of ballots matches the number of voters, but they are not empowered to undertake deeper investigations.
—Phoebe Petrovic, ProPublica, 30 Oct. 2024
Of course, the brain didn’t evolve to perform arithmetic.
—IEEE Spectrum, 31 May 2017
See all Example Sentences for arithmetic
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Cite this Entry
“Arithmetic.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/arithmetic. Accessed 22 Jan. 2025.
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