# quantity

## English

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### Etymology

From Old French quantité, from Latin quantitas ‎(quantity), from quantus ‎(how much).

### Pronunciation

•  Audio (CA) (file)
• (UK) IPA(key): /ˈkwɒn.tɪ.ti/
•  Audio (UK) (file)
• (US) IPA(key): /ˈkwɑntɨti/, /ˈkwɑntɨɾi/, /ˈkwɑnɾɨɾi/, /ˈkwɑnɨɾi/
•  Audio (US) (file)
•  Audio (US) (file)
Note: This is with a relaxed middle T, and should be considered colloquial pronunciation.
 This entry needs pronunciation information. If you are familiar with enPR or the IPA then please add some! Particularly: “US IPA and SAMPA needed, standard as well as colloquial (to match Audio) please”

### Noun

quantity ‎(plural quantities)

1. A fundamental, generic term used when referring to the measurement (count, amount) of a scalar, vector, number of items or to some other way of denominating the value of a collection or group of items.
You have to choose between quantity and quality.
2. An indefinite amount of something.
Some soap making oils are best as base oils, used in a larger quantity in the soap, while other oils are best added in a small quantity.
Olive oil can be used practically in any quantity.
3. A specific measured amount.
This bag would normally costs $497.50 for a quantity of 250, at a price of$1.99 per piece.
Generally it should not be used in a quantity larger than 15 percent.
4. A considerable measure or amount.
The Boeing P-26A was the first all-metal monoplane fighter produced in quantity for the U.S. Army Air Corps.
5. (metrology) Property of a phenomenon, body, or substance, where the property has a magnitude that can be expressed as number and a reference.
6. (mathematics) Indicates that the entire preceding expression is henceforth considered a single object.
x plus y quantity squared equals x squared plus 2xy plus y squared.
• 2006, Jerome E. Kaufmann and Karen Schwitters, Elementary and Intermediate Algebra: A Combined Approach, p 89
For problems 58-67, translate each word phrase into an algebraic expression.
(...)
65. x plus 9, the quantity squared
• 2005, R. Mark Sirkin, Statistics For The Social Sciences, p137
The second, ${\displaystyle (\sum x)^{2}}$, read "summation of x, quantity squared," tells us to first add up all the xs to get ${\displaystyle \sum x}$ and then square ${\displaystyle \sum x}$ to get ${\displaystyle (\sum x)^{2}}$.
• 1985, Serge Lang, Math!: Encounters with High School Students, p54
ANN. ${\displaystyle ra}$ quantity cubed.
SERGE LANG. That's right, ${\displaystyle (ra)^{3}}$.

#### Usage notes

• In mathematics, used to unambiguously orate mathematical equations; it is extremely rare in print, since there is no need for it there.

#### Translations

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