do its math

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "do its math" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when referring to the process of performing calculations or solving problems, often in a figurative sense. Example: "Before making a decision, the team needs to do its math to ensure the numbers add up."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

3 human-written examples

# Here's the chart with On=0 Off=1 set to 0. It would be hilarious to force a computer to do its math using this as an abacus! defer.add img); Spcl Design 12b Line of Skipping Spheres.

WikiHow

This board cannot do its math".

The New York Times

Congress didn't do its math homework.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

57 human-written examples

Before the project is built, Petronas has to re-do its math on LNG to decide whether the project makes business sense.

Vice

On November 7 in Seattle, 350.org launched its "Do the Math" campaign to target college and university investment funds to divest of fossil fuel stocks.

Huffington Post

Only after committing itself to this undefined task did it began to do the math and find its error.

Forbes

The company is now launching a new ad campaign that compels customers to "do the math" on its new prices.

Huffington Post

(The report perfunctorily mentions these issues, but its math doesn't appear to take them into account).

Huffington Post

(Did S. & P. get its math wrong?

The New Yorker

You do the math.

The New York Times

2. Do the Math.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "do its math", ensure the subject you're referring to is clearly defined, and that it logically connects to performing calculations or evaluations.

Common error

Avoid using "do its math" when the context involves more than just numerical computation; consider alternatives if the situation requires broader analysis.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "do its math" functions as a verb phrase, where "do" is the main verb and "its math" serves as the object. The phrase implies a process of calculation or evaluation that needs to be performed by a specific entity. As seen in Ludwig, this often refers to a company or organization needing to carefully analyze data.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

66%

Wiki

33%

Science

0%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Academia

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "do its math" is a grammatically sound and usable expression that calls for a necessary calculation or evaluation before making any decision. Ludwig AI suggests the phrase is primarily found in News & Media and Wiki contexts, indicating a neutral to slightly informal register. When writing, it's crucial to ensure the subject of the phrase is clearly defined and capable of performing the implied calculations. To expand your expression toolbox, consider related phrases such as "perform the calculations" or "evaluate the figures".

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

figure out the math

More emphasis on understanding the process.

calculate the result

Focuses on obtaining a specific numerical outcome.

make the calculation

Highlights the process of arriving at a result.

perform the calculations

Focuses on the action of calculating.

work out the numbers

Similar to "crunch the numbers" but less idiomatic.

crunch the numbers

An idiomatic way of saying "calculate".

determine the outcome

Focuses on establishing the final result after calculation.

evaluate the figures

Emphasizes assessing numerical data.

compute the figures

Formal alternative for calculating numerical values.

assess the data

Broader than just numbers, includes all data.

FAQs

How can I use "do its math" in a sentence?

You can use "do its math" to suggest that someone or something needs to perform calculations or assess a situation carefully. For example, "The company needs to "do its math" before launching the new product."

What does "do its math" mean?

"Do its math" means to perform the necessary calculations or evaluations to understand a situation or make a decision. It often implies a need for careful consideration of numerical data.

What are some alternatives to "do its math"?

Some alternatives include "perform the calculations", "crunch the numbers", or "evaluate the figures", depending on the context.

Is it correct to say "do its mathematics"?

While grammatically understandable, "do its mathematics" is less common and idiomatic than ""do its math"". The shorter phrase is generally preferred in most contexts.