Pre-Algebra Review Vocabulary

Vocabulary flashcards covering key pre-algebra terms from the notes.

order of operations

Rules for evaluating expressions in a fixed order: parentheses (or any other grouping symbol), exponents(or roots), multiplication and division from left to right, then addition and subtraction from left to right.

sum

The result of adding two or more numbers.

difference

The result of subtracting one number from another.

product

The result of multiplying two or more numbers.

quotient

The result of dividing one number by another.

commutative property of addition

Changing the order of addends does not change the sum (a + b = b + a).

commutative property of multiplication

Changing the order of factors does not change the product (a × b = b × a).

equation

A statement that two expressions are equal, usually containing an equals sign.

variable

A symbol that represents an unknown or changeable value.

coefficient (implied coefficients)

A number multiplying a variable (e.g., 3 in 3x; the implied coefficient of x is 1 in just x).

term

A single number or variable or a product of numbers and variables in an expression.

expression

A combination of terms without an equality sign.

solve

Find the value(s) of the variable(s) that satisfy an equation.

simplify

Rewrite an expression in a simpler or more compact form (e.g., combine like terms, remove parentheses when possible).

evaluate

Compute the numerical value of an expression by substituting given values for the variables.

inequality

A statement that one expression is greater than, less than, or not equal to another (can include ≥, ≤).

independent/input variable

The variable whose value is chosen or controlled (input) in a relation or function.

dependent/output variable

The variable whose value depends on the input (output).

input-output (x/y) table

A table showing inputs and the corresponding outputs for a function or relation.

coordinate pair

An ordered pair (x, y) used to locate a point on the coordinate plane.

relation

A set of ordered pairs that connects inputs to outputs.

coordinate plane

The flat surface formed by the x-axis and y-axis used for graphing points.

origin

The point (0, 0) where the axes intersect.

x axis

The horizontal axis in the coordinate plane.

y axis

The vertical axis in the coordinate plane.

base

In exponent notation, the number that is raised to a power (a^n).

exponent

The small number indicating how many times the base is multiplied by itself (the power).

power

The result of exponentiation; the value a^n.

root

The radical operation; a number that, when raised to a specified power, gives another number (e.g., square root).

index number (indices)

The small number in a radical indicating the degree of the root (e.g., the 3 in ∛5).

radical

The symbol √ (and related forms) used to denote roots.

grouping symbols

Symbols used to group parts of an expression, such as parentheses, brackets, and braces.

integers

All whole numbers and their negatives (…, -2, -1, 0, 1, 2, …).

real numbers

All rational and irrational numbers on the number line.

whole numbers

Nonnegative integers: 0, 1, 2, 3, …

rational numbers

Numbers that can be expressed as a ratio of integers (p/q with q ≠ 0).

irrational numbers

Numbers that cannot be expressed as a ratio of integers (e.g., √2, π).

decimal

A number written with a decimal point to show fractional parts.

place value (ones, tens, hundreds)

The value of a digit determined by its position in a whole number (ones, tens, hundreds, …).

decimal place value (tenths, hundredths, thousandths)

The value of a digit to the right of the decimal point (tenths, hundredths, thousandths, …).

operation vs. result

An operation is the action performed (e.g., add, multiply); the result is the value obtained from performing the operation.