It all adds up

The internet has taught us Girl Math and Boy Math. We just multiplied it. From justifying vacays to calculating hair wash days and subtracting calories, check out how we all share a common denominator

- Karishma Kuenzang

First, an apology to Aryabhatta. The father of Indian mathematics developed the idea of zero in our place-value system, worked out the approximation of pi, did early trig and algebra. But he'd be lost about girl math, boy math. Let's clue him (and you) in.

In August 2023, TikTok user Samantha Jane (@samjamessssss) asked her followers for examples of Girl Math, their personal everyday calculations that justify spending behaviour. "[If I] return something at Zara for $50 [and] bought something else for $100, it only cost me $50," Jane explained. Users caught on immediately: Girl Math is preloading a Starbucks card so coffee is free. Girl Math is placing a bigger order just to get free shipping.

Men joined in with Boy Math. Carrying one pair of jeans and four T-shirts for a week-long trip, believing that 5'9 is 5'11 with shoes on (which is basically 6', right?), or grumbling that women are gold diggers even when some men have barely three pairs of socks to their name.

Now, there's no going back. Pet-parent Math is thinking that getting a second dog is cheaper because you already have the shampoo, bowls and food supply for the first one. Laundry Math is realising you have half a washing load and deciding it's sheet-washing time. We got creators, actors, musicians, chefs and artists to share their little lifecalculations. Turns out, we're all the same inside.

Piyush Khati, 27, actor

Sale Math. "I'm quite certain of what I want vs what I need. I only give in when it's sneakers," he says. Khati figures that if one pair of sneakers is at full price and the second is 50% off, they're both on sale. Bonus points if there's a card discount. "I will try every discount or coupon code I can. If there's even a little margin for bargaining, I will do it."