Where did the word Math came from?

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SUMMARY

The term "Mathematics" originates from ancient Greece, attributed to Pythagoras, who coined the term to mean "that which is learned." The earliest recorded use of the word in English dates back to 1581 in Richard Mulcaster's work "Positions," where it is spelled "mathematikes." This historical context highlights the evolution of mathematical terminology and its roots in philosophical thought.

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  • Understanding of etymology and historical linguistics
  • Familiarity with ancient Greek culture and philosophy
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  • Research the contributions of Pythagoras to mathematics and philosophy
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Where did the word Math came from?
 
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I am guessing, ancient Greece? My second guess would be Arabic.
 
If you worry about such things, you might find the website "Earliest Known Uses of Some of the Words of Mathematics" interesting:
http://members.aol.com/jeff570/mathword.html

It says:
MATHEMATICS. Pythagoras is said to have coined the words philosophy for "love of wisdom" and mathematics for "that which is learned."

Mathematics is found in English in 1581 in Positions, wherein those primitive circumstances be examined, which are necessarie for the training up of children by Richard Mulcaster. (The word is spelled "mathematikes.") (OED2)
 
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