"Mathematics" is a b-side single from Mos Def's solo debut album, Black on Both Sides. It contains lyrics about various social issues and asks the listener to add them up and come to conclusions about them. Many references to numbers are found in this song and at times, Mos Def rhymes statistics in numerical order. The song is produced by DJ Premier whose famous scratch samples make up the song's bridge. Premier has called it one of his favorite beats.
It can be found on the soundtrack of Madden NFL 2002.
Mathematics is the debut single from Manchester band Cherry Ghost. It was released as a digital download on March 26, 2007 and on CD and 7" vinyl on April 9, 2007. It went to #57 on the UK singles chart. "Mathematics" has acquired the title "song of the week" on Radio 2, and Zane Lowe of BBC Radio 1 declared the song "the hottest record in the world" in February 2007. Jimi Goodwin of Doves plays bass and drums on the single.
Two music videos were made for the song. The first, a self-produced video featuring a man in a bird costume, was posted in late 2006. The second, featuring Simon Aldred's family home movies, appeared on Heavenly Records' website in early 2008.
