Carnegie Math MSMB Course 1 Glossary

absolute deviation

The absolute value of a deviation.

absolute value

The absolute value, or magnitude, of a number is its distance from zero on a number line.

Addition Property of Equality

States that if two values a and b are equal, adding the same value c to each will keep the sums equal.

additive reasoning

A method focusing on addition and subtraction for comparisons.

algebraic expression

A mathematical phrase that has at least one variable, and can contain numbers and operation symbols.

algorithm

A process or description of steps that can be followed to complete a mathematical calculation.

area

The number of square units needed to cover a two-dimensional shape.

area model

A rectangular diagram used to represent multiplication and division problems.

balance point

The value where all points on a number line are balanced.

bar graph

A graph that displays categorical data using horizontal or vertical bars.

base

The factor that is multiplied repeatedly in a power.

benchmark percents

Commonly used percents such as 1%, 5%, 10%, etc.

box-and-whisker plot

A graph that displays the five-number summary of a data set.

categories

Groups of things that have some quality in common.

categorical data

Data that fits into exactly one of several categories.

circle graph

A graph that displays categorical data using sectors of a circle.

clusters

Areas on a graph where data group closely together.

coefficient

A number multiplied by a variable in an algebraic expression.

coordinate plane

A plane formed by the intersection of a vertical number line (y-axis) and a horizontal number line (x-axis).

common denominators

Denominators that are the same for two or more fractions.

common factor

A factor shared between two or more numbers.

Commutative Property of Multiplication

The property stating that the product of a and b is equal to the product of b and a.

complex fraction

A fraction that has a fraction in either the numerator, denominator, or both.

composite

A number that has more than two factors.

composite figure

A figure made up of more than one geometric figure.

composite solid

A solid made up of more than one geometric solid.

continuous graph

A graph with no breaks in it.

conversion table

A table of equivalent measures for changing from one unit of measure to another.

convert

To change a measurement to an equivalent measurement in different units.

cube

A polyhedron that has congruent squares as faces.

data

Categories, numbers, or observations gathered in response to a statistical question.

decimal notation

An equivalent form of a number using a decimal point.

denominator

The bottom number in a fraction.

Density Property

States that between any two rational numbers, there is another rational number.

dependent quantity

The quantity that depends on another in a problem situation.

dependent variable

The variable that represents the dependent quantity.

deviation

Indicates how far a data value is from the mean.

discrete graph

A graph of isolated points.

distribution

The overall shape of a graph showing how data is spread out.

Distributive Property

States that a(b + c) is equal to ab + ac.

Division Property of Equality

States that when you divide equal values by the same value (c ≠ 0), the quotients are equal.

dot plot

A data display that shows discrete data on a number line.

double number line

A model made up of two number lines used to represent the ratio between two quantities.

edge

The intersection of two faces of a three-dimensional figure.

ellipsis

A set of three periods used to represent infinity in a number set.

equation

A mathematical sentence that uses an equals sign to show two expressions are equal.

equivalent fractions

Fractions that represent the same part-to-whole relationship.

equivalent number

A number that has the same value as another expression.

equivalent ratios

Ratios that represent the same part-to-part or part-to-whole relationship.

evaluate an algebraic expression

To determine the value of the expression for given values of each variable.

evaluate a numeric expression

To rewrite the expression as a single numeric value.

experiment

A method of collecting data through imposed conditions and observation of results.

exponent

The number of times the base is used as a factor.

face

One of the polygons that makes up a polyhedron.

frequency

The number of times an item or number occurs in a data set.

gaps

Areas of a graph where there are no data.

geometric solid

A bounded, three-dimensional geometric figure.

graph of an inequality

A set of points on a number line that makes the inequality true.

grouped frequency table

A table used to organize data by how many times data values with a given range occur.

greatest common factor (GCF)

The largest factor two or more numbers have in common.

histogram

A graphical way to display quantitative data using vertical bars.

Identity Property of Addition

The sum of any number and 0 is the number itself.

Identity Property of Multiplication

The product of any number and 1 is the number itself.

improper fraction

A fraction in which the numerator is greater than the denominator.

independent quantity

The quantity that the dependent quantity depends on.

independent variable

The variable representing the independent quantity.

inequality

A comparison showing that one value is greater than, less than, or not equal to another.

infinity

A quantity with no end or bound.

integers

Whole numbers and their opposites.

interquartile range (IQR)

The difference between the first and third quartiles.

inverse operations

Operations that reverse the effects of each other.

kite

A quadrilateral with two pairs of consecutive congruent sides.

least common multiple (LCM)

The smallest multiple that two or more numbers have in common.

like terms

Two or more terms that have the same variable raised to the same power.

line of symmetry

An imaginary line that divides a shape into two identical halves.

linear relationship

A set of points on a coordinate plane that forms a straight line.

literal equation

An equation in which the variables represent specific measures.

mean

The arithmetic average of the numbers in a data set.

mean absolute deviation

The average of the absolute deviations.

measure of center

Tells how data values cluster or the location of the center of the data.

measure of variation

Describes the spread of data values.

median

The middle number in a data set when arranged in order.

mode

The value that occurs most frequently in a data set.

multiple

The product of a given whole number and another whole number.

Multiplication Property of Equality

States that if two values are equal, multiplying each by the same value keeps them equal.

multiplicative inverse

The number that when multiplied by a given number gives 1.

multiplicative reasoning

Focuses on the use of multiplication and division.

negative numbers

Numbers to the left of 0 on a number line.

net

A two-dimensional representation of a three-dimensional figure.

number line

A line marked at equal intervals with numbers.

numerator

The top number in a fraction.

numeric expression

A mathematical phrase that contains numbers and operations.

numeric pattern

A sequence of numbers created by following a given rule.

observational study

Collecting data by observing the variable of interest.

one-step equation

An equation that can be solved using only one operation.

Order of Operations

A set of rules that ensures the same result when evaluating an expression.

ordered pair

A pair of real numbers used to locate a point on a coordinate plane.

origin

The point where the x- and y-axes intersect on a coordinate plane.

outliers

Data values that lie a large distance from other data in a graph.

parallelogram

A four-sided figure with two pairs of parallel sides.