CBSE Math RevisionMaths jokes and puns
91 maths jokes for the classroom, grouped by topic. Tap "Get it?" for the maths behind each one, with a link to revise the topic. All our own, all kind, and safe for any classroom.
Jump to: Number · Circles and π · Angles and shapes · Fractions and decimals · Algebra · Statistics · Probability · Sets and Venn diagrams · Graphs and coordinates · Trigonometry · Sequences · Vectors · Calculus · Integration · Exponentials and logarithms · Probability distributions · Complex numbers · Matrices
Number jokes
Why did 6 keep away from 7?
Because 7 8 9.
Get it?
Said out loud, '7 8 9' sounds like 'seven ate nine'. They are three consecutive whole numbers. Revise number · Poster
Why did the two 4s skip lunch?
They already 8.
Get it?
4 + 4 = 8, and 'eight' sounds like 'ate'. Revise number
What do you call a number that loves to travel?
A roamin' numeral.
Get it?
Roman numerals write numbers with letters: I = 1, V = 5, X = 10, L = 50, C = 100. Revise number
Why did the student do their multiplication on the floor?
They were told not to use tables.
Get it?
'Times tables' are the multiplication facts, like 7 × 8 = 56. Revise number
What did 0 say to 8?
"Nice belt!"
Get it?
An 8 looks like a 0 with a line round its middle. Revise number
Why do prime numbers make great TV presenters?
They only appear in prime time.
Get it?
A prime has exactly two factors, 1 and itself: 2, 3, 5, 7, 11, … Revise number
Why was 7 always picked last for teams?
It was a bit odd.
Get it?
Odd numbers leave a remainder of 1 when divided by 2. Revise number
Where do square numbers grow?
From their square roots.
Get it?
The square root of 49 is 7 because 7² = 49. Revise number
Why did the huge number go to the gym?
To get into standard form.
Get it?
Standard form writes a number as A × 10ⁿ with 1 ≤ A < 10, e.g. 3 500 000 = 3.5 × 10⁶. Revise number
What did the negative number say when it felt down?
"Stay positive, my absolute value hasn't changed."
Get it?
The absolute value is the size without the sign: |−5| = 5. Revise number
Why did 4.6 go to bed early?
It was ready to be rounded up.
Get it?
To the nearest whole number, 4.6 rounds up to 5 because the tenths digit is 5 or more. Revise number
Where do numbers go for a picnic?
Under a factor tree.
Get it?
A factor tree splits a number into prime factors, e.g. 60 = 2² × 3 × 5. Revise number
Why do maths teachers grow such good gardens?
They know all about square roots.
Get it?
√ is the square-root sign: √81 = 9 because 9² = 81. Revise number
Why is 1729 such an interesting taxi number?
It's the sum of two cubes in two different ways.
Get it?
1729 = 1³ + 12³ = 9³ + 10³: the smallest number that can be written as a sum of two positive cubes in two ways. Revise number · Poster
Why is 0 the humblest number?
It adds nothing but changes everything when it's in the right place.
Get it?
0 is a placeholder: 205 and 25 are different numbers because of where the 0 sits. Revise number
Circles and π jokes
Why should you never start a conversation with π?
It goes on for ever.
Get it?
π is irrational: its decimal never ends and never falls into a repeating pattern. Revise circles and π · Poster
What did the triangle say to the circle?
"You're pointless."
Get it?
A triangle has three vertices (corner points); a circle has none. Revise circles and π · Poster
Why are circle arguments never finished?
They just go round and round.
Get it?
A circle is every point at the same distance (the radius) from its centre. Revise circles and π
Why did the radius feel left out?
The diameter was twice as big.
Get it?
The diameter is twice the radius: d = 2r. Revise circles and π
What do you get if you divide a pie's circumference by its diameter?
π, with a crumbly remainder.
Get it?
For every circle, circumference ÷ diameter = π, about 3.14. Revise circles and π
Why don't you argue with π?
It's completely irrational.
Get it?
π cannot be written as a fraction of two whole numbers, so it is irrational. Revise circles and π
Angles and shapes jokes
Why are obtuse angles always so grumpy?
Because they are never right.
Get it?
An obtuse angle is between 90° and 180°, so it can never be a right angle (exactly 90°). Revise angles and shapes · Poster
How do you warm up in a cold classroom?
Stand in the corner. It's 90 degrees.
Get it?
The corner of a rectangular room is a right angle, 90°: degrees of angle, not of temperature. Revise angles and shapes · Poster
Why are parallel lines so sad?
They have so much in common but they'll never meet.
Get it?
Parallel lines have the same gradient (direction), so they never cross. Revise angles and shapes
What did one angle say to the other?
"You're acute one."
Get it?
An acute angle is less than 90°; 'a cute' sounds the same. Revise angles and shapes
Why are squares so good at keeping secrets?
They have four sides and never take any of them.
Get it?
A square has four equal sides and four right angles. Revise angles and shapes
What do you call a parrot that has flown away?
A polygon.
Get it?
'Polly gone': a polygon is a closed shape with straight sides. Revise angles and shapes
Why do bees love hexagons?
Six sides, no gaps, and nobody gets stung for space.
Get it?
Regular hexagons tessellate: they fit together with no gaps because each angle is 120° and 3 × 120° = 360°. Revise angles and shapes
Why was the isosceles triangle so balanced?
It had two equal sides to every story.
Get it?
An isosceles triangle has two equal sides and two equal angles. Revise angles and shapes
Why does the butterfly love maths?
It's naturally good at symmetry.
Get it?
A line of symmetry splits a shape into two mirror-image halves. Revise angles and shapes
Why does a rangoli always look so neat?
It has lines of symmetry to spare.
Get it?
Many rangoli patterns have rotational and line symmetry around their centre. Revise angles and shapes · Poster
Fractions and decimals jokes
Why did the decimal give up on the argument?
It couldn't see the point.
Get it?
The decimal point separates the whole-number part from the tenths, hundredths and so on. Revise fractions and decimals
Why was the fraction worried about the party?
It wasn't sure it would fit in with the whole group.
Get it?
A fraction is part of a whole: 3/4 of a group is 3 of every 4 equal parts. Revise fractions and decimals
Why was the percentage so sure of itself?
It was a hundred percent certain.
Get it?
'Per cent' means 'out of 100', so 100% is the whole amount. Revise fractions and decimals
Why is a good cup of chai like maths?
It's all about getting the ratio right.
Get it?
A ratio such as 3 : 1 compares quantities: three parts of one thing to one part of another. Revise fractions and decimals · Poster
Why did the laddoo refuse to be cut into thirds?
It didn't want to be a recurring decimal.
Get it?
1/3 = 0.333…, a recurring decimal; it is still a rational number. Revise fractions and decimals · Poster
Why did the shopkeeper love percentages?
A 10% discount on ₹500 still leaves ₹450 to smile about.
Get it?
10% of 500 is 50, so the price after a 10% discount is 500 − 50 = 450. Revise fractions and decimals
Algebra jokes
Why is the equals sign so modest?
It knows it's not greater than or less than anyone.
Get it?
= says both sides have the same value; > and < are for when one side is bigger. Revise algebra
Why didn't x come back?
It was finally solved.
Get it?
Solving an equation means finding the value of the unknown, x. Revise algebra
Why does algebra use so many letters?
Numbers were getting tired of being unknown.
Get it?
A letter stands for a number we don't know yet, or for any number in a rule. Revise algebra
Why did 3x and 5x get along so well?
They were like terms.
Get it?
Like terms have the same letters and powers, so they can be collected: 3x + 5x = 8x. Revise algebra
What did the brackets say to the 2 outside?
"Come on in, you can multiply everyone."
Get it?
Expanding: 2(x + 3) = 2x + 6. The 2 multiplies every term inside. Revise algebra
Why did the inequality sign turn round?
Someone multiplied it by a negative.
Get it?
Multiplying or dividing both sides of an inequality by a negative number reverses the sign. Revise algebra
Why are quadratic graphs good at sport?
They always know where their turning point is.
Get it?
A quadratic's graph is a parabola with one turning point (a maximum or a minimum). Revise algebra
Why did f⁻¹ follow f everywhere?
To undo everything it did.
Get it?
An inverse function reverses a function: f⁻¹(f(x)) = x. Revise algebra
Why do trains love algebra questions?
They're always being asked when they'll meet.
Get it?
Relative speed: two trains approaching each other close the gap at the sum of their speeds. Revise algebra · Poster
Why did the student write every step of the solution?
Because each step can earn marks, and a skipped step can lose them.
Get it?
Board-exam marking schemes give marks for each correct step of working. Revise algebra
Statistics jokes
What did the mean say to the median?
"You're so middle-of-the-road."
Get it?
The median is the middle value of ordered data; the mean is the total divided by how many. Revise statistics
Why is the mode always in fashion?
It turns up more often than anyone else.
Get it?
The mode is the value that appears most often. Revise statistics
Why did the data set buy a new cooker?
It wanted a bigger range.
Get it?
Range = largest value − smallest value: a quick measure of spread. Revise statistics
Why was the histogram bar so wide but not very tall?
It was all about the density.
Get it?
In a histogram, area shows frequency: frequency density = frequency ÷ class width. Revise statistics
What did the scatter graph say to the line of best fit?
"You really understand me."
Get it?
A line of best fit follows the trend of the points when there is correlation. Revise statistics
Why did the batter love the mean?
One big innings lifts the whole average.
Get it?
The mean is total ÷ number of values, so one large value pulls it up. Revise statistics · Poster
Probability jokes
What's the probability of a coin landing on its edge in a joke?
Practically zero, but we'll toss it in anyway.
Get it?
An event that cannot happen has probability 0; a certain one has probability 1. Revise probability
Why do people trust a fair dice?
It never plays favourites: every face has a 1 in 6 chance.
Get it?
On a fair six-sided dice each outcome has probability 1/6. Revise probability
Why are tree diagrams good with decisions?
They multiply along the branches and never lose track.
Get it?
For 'this and then that', multiply the probabilities along the branches. Revise probability
Why didn't the coin care about its last five flips?
It was totally independent.
Get it?
Each flip of a fair coin is independent: P(heads) is ½ every time. Revise probability
Sets and Venn diagrams jokes
How do two Venn diagram circles show they're friends?
They overlap.
Get it?
The overlap (intersection) shows what belongs to both sets. Revise sets and venn diagrams
Why was the empty set so calm?
Nothing ever got to it.
Get it?
The empty set has no elements at all; it is written ∅ or { }. Revise sets and venn diagrams
Graphs and coordinates jokes
Why did the straight line refuse to go hiking?
It didn't like the gradient.
Get it?
The gradient is the steepness of a line: change in y ÷ change in x. Revise graphs and coordinates
Where do graphs go to find themselves?
Back to the origin.
Get it?
The origin is the point (0, 0) where the axes cross. Revise graphs and coordinates
What did the point say when asked out?
"Sure, just tell me the coordinates."
Get it?
Coordinates (x, y) give a point's position: across first, then up. Revise graphs and coordinates
Why is the y-axis always asking questions?
Because it's y.
Get it?
y is the vertical axis; 'y' sounds like 'why'. Revise graphs and coordinates
Why did the curve keep getting closer to the line but never touch it?
It was an asymptote, and very shy.
Get it?
An asymptote is a line a graph approaches but never reaches. Revise graphs and coordinates
Why did the graph go to the board exam early?
It wanted to plot its seat.
Get it?
Plotting a point means placing it at its coordinates (x, y). Revise graphs and coordinates
Trigonometry jokes
Why did the ladder ask Pythagoras for help?
It wanted to know how high it could get.
Get it?
With a wall and the ground at right angles, the ladder is the hypotenuse: a² + b² = c². Revise trigonometry
Why did the triangle go to the trig lesson?
To work out where it stood on all sides.
Get it?
sin, cos and tan link an angle of a right-angled triangle to the ratios of its sides. Revise trigonometry
Why is the hypotenuse so confident?
It's always the longest side in the room.
Get it?
The hypotenuse, opposite the right angle, is the longest side of a right-angled triangle. Revise trigonometry
How do waves talk to each other?
In sine language.
Get it?
The graph of y = sin x is a smooth wave that repeats every 360° (2π radians). Revise trigonometry
Why was the kite flyer so good at trigonometry?
They always knew the angle of elevation.
Get it?
The angle of elevation is measured up from the horizontal to the line of sight. Revise trigonometry · Poster
Sequences jokes
Why are sequences so predictable?
You can always tell what's coming next.
Get it?
A sequence follows a rule, such as 'add 4', so the next term can be worked out. Revise sequences
Why did the term feel special?
It was the nth one anyone had asked about.
Get it?
The nth-term rule gives any term from its position, e.g. 4n − 1 gives 3, 7, 11, … Revise sequences
Why is a canteen queue like an AP?
Every minute, the same number join.
Get it?
An arithmetic progression adds the same common difference d each time. Revise sequences · Poster
Vectors jokes
Why are vectors never lost?
They always know their magnitude and direction.
Get it?
A vector has a size (magnitude) and a direction; a scalar has only a size. Revise vectors
Why did the shape move to a new country?
It wanted a translation.
Get it?
A translation slides a shape without turning it, described by a column vector. Revise vectors
Calculus jokes
Why is the derivative so good at handling change?
It's literally its job.
Get it?
The derivative dy/dx measures the rate of change of y with respect to x. Revise calculus · Poster
Why did the constant leave the derivative's party?
It felt like it disappeared.
Get it?
The derivative of a constant is 0: a constant doesn't change. Revise calculus · Poster
Why did the function of a function feel trapped?
It was stuck in a chain.
Get it?
The chain rule: dy/dx = dy/du × du/dx for a function of a function. Revise calculus
Why is eˣ so calm when it's differentiated?
It's already been through it all and come out the same.
Get it?
The derivative of eˣ is eˣ itself. Revise calculus · Poster
Why did the function stop just short of the cliff?
It knew its limits.
Get it?
A limit is the value f(x) gets close to as x approaches a number. Revise calculus
Why did the curve take a break at the top of the hill?
It had reached a stationary point.
Get it?
At a stationary point the gradient is zero: dy/dx = 0. Revise calculus
Integration jokes
Why did the indefinite integral feel incomplete?
It had forgotten its + C.
Get it?
Every indefinite integral needs a constant of integration, + C. Revise integration
Why did the function invite its integral to every family event?
It wanted to see the area it had covered.
Get it?
A definite integral gives the area between a curve and the x-axis. Revise integration · Poster
Exponentials and logarithms jokes
Where do logarithms go on holiday?
A log cabin, with a natural base.
Get it?
ln x is the natural logarithm, log base e. Revise exponentials and logarithms · Poster
Why did the power ask the logarithm for help?
It wanted to get down from up there.
Get it?
Logs bring powers down: log(aᵏ) = k log a. Revise exponentials and logarithms
Probability distributions jokes
Why is the normal distribution so popular?
Most people find it pretty average.
Get it?
A normal distribution is symmetric about its mean, with most values near the middle. Revise probability distributions · Poster
Why did the data point go to the standard deviation?
It wanted to know how far it had strayed.
Get it?
The standard deviation measures how spread out values are from the mean. Revise probability distributions
Complex numbers jokes
Why did i bring a real friend to the party?
To make it complex.
Get it?
A complex number a + bi has a real part a and an imaginary part bi, with i² = −1. Revise complex numbers · Poster
Why was i so negative after squaring up?
Because i² = −1.
Get it?
The imaginary unit i is defined so that i² = −1. Revise complex numbers
Matrices jokes
Why do matrices never get their orders mixed up at a café?
They always say rows first, then columns.
Get it?
A 2 × 3 matrix has 2 rows and 3 columns; AB and BA are usually different. Revise matrices
For the classroom wall
20 of these are cartoon posters to print: maths joke posters. More free printables: classroom posters · knowledge organisers.