I'm checking the numbers

Question

Boy: Hi Frankie. Are you still working on your time chart?Mom: No. I finished that. Now, I'm checking the checks.Boy: Checking the checks?Mom: Yeah. I'm checking the paychecks for my employees.Boy: Oh, what do you have to check?Mom: I have to check, make sure that all my employees are getting the right amount of money.Boy: How do you make sure of that?Mom: By making sure all the figures are right.Boy: Figures are numbers?Mom: Yeah. I'm checking the numbers, the math.Boy: Math?Mom: Math, mathematics, arithmetic.--------------------------------------------------What does "I'm checking the numbers, the math." mean?What does "the numbers" mean in this dialogue?Thank you

AlpheccaStars · Accepted Answer

This is a strange dialogue.

Apparently it is between a mother and her son.

rezaenglishBoy: Hi Frankie. Are you still working on your time chart?

A boy would never call his mother "Frankie." Frankie is a man's nickname, short for "Franklin."

"Time chart" is unnatural.

rezaenglishMom: I have to check, to make sure that all my employees are getting the right amount of money.

rezaenglishMom: Yeah. I'm checking the numbers, the math.

The boy does not understand his mother's use of the word "figures".
In my opinion, he is right!

So she give synonyms.

"Numbers" is a synonym for "figures" in certain contexts. It is the amounts printed on the checks, for example, $1084.76.

The math - refers to the calculations that are done to compute the amount printed on the check. For example, the gross amount is the number of hours worked multiplied by the hourly wage. For example, $15 per hour for two weeks (80 hours) is $1200.

The net amount will usually be less, because there are deductions for taxes and benefits, in this case $115.24.

The mother is figuring out if the amounts are accurate.

I'm checking the numbers

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