Figures as a short subject (5)

I believe the answer is:

maths

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'subject' is the definition.
(maths is a kind of subject)

I don't understand how the remainder of the clue works.

(Other definitions for maths that I've seen before include "Arithmetic etc" , "Subject involving figures (abbr)" , "Science of magnitude and number" , "Numbers subject" , "Algebra, geometry, calculus etc (abbr)" .)

I've seen this clue in the Evening Standard.

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