Arithmetic is the most elementary branch of mathematics dealing with numbers and basic operations: addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division.
Arithmetic forms the foundation of all mathematics. The four basic operations are addition (+), subtraction (โ), multiplication (ร), and division (รท). Arithmetic also includes concepts like place value, fractions, decimals, percentages, and properties such as commutativity, associativity, and distributivity. Mastery of arithmetic is essential before advancing to algebra and higher mathematics.
Arithmetic has been practiced since ancient times. The earliest known arithmetic is found in Sumerian clay tablets from around 3000 BCE. The modern decimal system with zero as a placeholder was developed in India around the 5th century CE and later transmitted to Europe through Arabic scholars. The arithmetic symbols we use today (+, โ, ร, รท) were standardized in the 15th-17th centuries.