Suggest or suggests?

[Catname]

I’d appreciate help to settle a dispute over the correct word to use in this sentence please?

When writing “Ben’s maths [disputed word] the answer would be 7.”

Which is correct: suggest or suggests? Or could it be either?

Thanks in advance.

Suggests

Actually perhaps it could be either? (I’m quite tired..☺️)

Hmm IMO the use of ‘maths’ here is a single act, therefore I’d say ‘suggests’.

In fact, ‘mathematics’ isn’t plural, so in any case, ‘suggests’ is right. You can’t get one mathematic.

Singular subject, singular verb so suggests.

Now, this is disappointing, I’m going to have to acknowledge DP is correct 🥴

So, to understand the concept so I don’t make this faux pas in the future:
a plural = suggest, and a singular = suggests? I’m now looking at the word suggest and am thinking of the lead singer of Madness 😊

Mathematics or maths is actually a plural though often treated as a singular.

I’d probably substitute the word calculations to make things less confusing 😁

Ben’s calculations suggest the answer…

To clarify, I mean maths in the sense of mathematical calculations (as in the example above) should be treated as plural.

The singular is used when speaking of mathematics as a subject of study.

“Maths (the subject) doesn’t come easily to me.”

vs

”The maths don’t seem to be giving me the answer I’m expecting here.”

Now, I like your answer and, of course, this was my reasoning too 😙🎵🎵🎵

Suggests but that assumes that maths is singular and I seen from this thread it may not be. Every day is a school day!

Ps does that mean Americans are wrong in calling it math rather than maths?

Well… two countries divided by a common language and all that 😀

American language is wrong on all fronts! I jest slightly, but math drives me slightly potty!

Aluminum too 😀