numerical reasoning

USAGE SUMMARY

"numerical reasoning" is correct and usable in written English. You can use it in contexts related to assessments, tests, or discussions about mathematical problem-solving skills. For example, "The job interview included a numerical reasoning test to evaluate candidates' analytical abilities." Alternative expressions include "mathematical reasoning" and "quantitative reasoning."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

20 human-written examples

I hadn't done numerical reasoning tests for a while so I knew I needed to practise.

The Guardian

You are then tested using a candidate questionnaire and numerical reasoning tests (practice makes perfect with these, I found).

The Guardian

Candidates will be invited to complete verbal and numerical reasoning tests in January, and a situational judgment test in February.

The Guardian

Today the emphasis of most math instruction is on — to use the new lingo — numerical reasoning.

The New York Times

Plus I sat mock verbal and numerical reasoning tests with my careers service and scored highly on each, something my adviser told me was "very encouraging".

The Guardian

shldirect.com Offers full-length practice tests, including verbal and numerical reasoning tests, personality and motivation questionnaires and speed and accuracy tests.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

40 human-written examples

To date, the main method used for studying the relationship between non-symbolic and symbolic numerical abilities consists of correlating participants' performance on non-symbolic (e.g., quick relative numerosity judgments) and symbolic (e.g., mental calculation, mathematical reasoning) numerical tasks [ 1, 28- 30].

Behavioral and Brain Functions

Internal Weber fraction A significant correlation was found between non-symbolic numerical estimation and mental calculation (r = -0.498, p = 0.002), and between numerical estimation and mathematical reasoning (r = -0.393, p = 0.019, Figure  4).

Behavioral and Brain Functions

Three tasks involved non-symbolic magnitude estimation (temporal, spatial, and numerical discrimination); one task involved symbolic numerical abilities (mental calculation and mathematical reasoning); and the last task was a control test that did not involve any magnitude estimation.

Behavioral and Brain Functions

Participants were also assigned symbolic numerical tasks (mental calculation and mathematical reasoning).

Behavioral and Brain Functions

Regarding the second purpose of this study, we found a positive correlation between non-symbolic (within and outside the subitizing range) and symbolic numerical abilities (both mental calculation and mathematical reasoning).

Behavioral and Brain Functions

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Employ the term in academic or scientific contexts to describe the specific mental faculty of processing quantitative information logically.

Common error

Avoid using "numerical reasoning" if you only mean basic arithmetic. Reasoning implies the ability to interpret data, identify patterns and make logical deductions from information, whereas calculation refers solely to performing mathematical operations.

Linguistic Context

In the data provided by Ludwig, "numerical reasoning" functions primarily as a compound noun or a noun phrase. It acts as the direct object of verbs like 'test', 'assess' or 'evaluate'. It is frequently used as a modifier within larger phrases such as 'numerical reasoning tests' or 'numerical reasoning tasks'.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Science

35%

Formal & Business

15%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

5%

Wiki

3%

Social Media

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The term "numerical reasoning" is a robust and widely accepted phrase in formal English. According to Ludwig AI, it is most frequently used in the context of professional development, recruitment and cognitive science. The phrase successfully differentiates the complex act of logical deduction from basic mental arithmetic. Whether you are discussing educational standards in The New York Times or describing a hiring process in The Guardian, the term provides a precise way to describe the intersection of logic and quantitative data. It is often paired with its linguistic counterpart, <a href="/s/verbal+reasoning" target="_blank" rel="alternative">verbal reasoning, to form a complete picture of an individual's analytical capabilities.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

numeric reasoning

A direct synonym though slightly less common in British English formal testing contexts

mathematical reasoning

Refers to a broader field of logic applied to abstract mathematical concepts beyond just numerical data

quantitative reasoning

Commonly used in academic and standardized testing (like the GRE) to describe the application of math to real-world data

numerical logic

A slightly more informal or descriptive way to refer to the underlying principles of the tests

arithmetical reasoning

Focuses more specifically on basic arithmetic operations rather than complex data interpretation

numeracy skills

Describes the basic ability to work with numbers rather than the higher-level reasoning process

data interpretation

Suggests the practical application of reading charts and graphs, often a component of numerical tests

statistical reasoning

Specifically involves the logic of probability, variance and data distributions

logical reasoning

The parent category that includes numerical, verbal, and abstract logic

computational reasoning

Leans toward the logic used in computer science and algorithmic thinking

FAQs

How to use "numerical reasoning" in a sentence?

You can use it in a professional context like: "The recruitment process included a <a href="/s/numerical+reasoning+test" target="_blank" rel="alternative">numerical reasoning test to evaluate candidates' analytical skills."

What is the difference between "numerical reasoning" and "mathematical reasoning"?

While similar, "numerical reasoning" is often associated with the practical interpretation of data and charts in business, whereas <a href="/s/mathematical+reasoning" target="_blank" rel="alternative">mathematical reasoning often deals with more abstract theorems and formulas.

What is another word for "numerical reasoning"?

Depending on the level of formality, you might use <a href="/s/quantitative+reasoning" target="_blank" rel="alternative">quantitative reasoning for academic contexts or <a href="/s/numeracy+skills" target="_blank" rel="alternative">numeracy skills for basic proficiency.

Is "numerical reasoning" a common term in job applications?

Yes, it is standard terminology for graduate schemes and corporate hiring, frequently paired with <a href="/s/verbal+reasoning" target="_blank" rel="alternative">verbal reasoning and abstract reasoning assessments.