Maths IB entrance exam terms

Addition

The process of adding two or more numbers.

Subtraction

The process of taking one number away from another.

Multiplication

Adding a number to itself a certain number of times.

Division

The process of splitting a number into equal parts.

Odd number

A number that cannot be divided by 2.

Even number

A number that can be divided by 2.

Composite number

A number that has more parts than 1 and itself.

Whole number

Numbers without decimals, positive, negative, or zero.

Numerator

The top number in a fraction.

Denominator

The bottom number in a fraction.

Fraction

A number that represents a part of a whole.

Decimals

Numbers that contain a decimal point.

Percent

A way to express a number as a part of 100.

Order of operations

Rules for the order of calculations: first parentheses, then multiply and divide, and last add and subtract.

Approximation

A rounded number close to the real one.

Rational numbers

Numbers that can be written as a fraction of two integers, like 1/2 or 3.

Negative numbers

Numbers less than zero, like -5.

Place value system

A system where a digit’s position determines its value, like 4 in 40 equals 40.

Hundreds

The digit in the hundreds place of a number, like 3 in 345.

Ones

The digit in the ones place of a number, like 5 in 345.

Hundredths

Parts of a number that are 1/100, like 0.01.

Tenths

Parts of a number that are 1/10, like 0.1.

Thousandths

Parts of a number that are 1/1000, like 0.001.

Estimation

Calculating roughly to get a quick answer, like 48 + 51 ≈ 50 + 50 = 100.

Reasonableness check

Checking if the answer seems reasonable or likely.

Prefix

A word or letter before a unit that changes its size, like kilo in kilogram (1000 grams).

Percentage

A number written as a part of 100, like 50%.

Ratio

A comparison between two or more numbers.

Proportion

When two variables change in relation to each other.

Comparison

Looking for similarities or differences between two or more objects.

Power

A number multiplied by itself a certain number of times.

Square root

A number that, when multiplied by itself, gives a certain number.

Variable

A symbol that represents an unknown value.

Equation

A mathematical statement that shows two things are equal.

Expression

A combination of numbers, variables, and operations.

Formula

A rule that describes the relationship between different variables.

Function

A relation where each input has exactly one output.

Linear functions

Functions that describe a straight line.

Coordinate system

A system for determining positions in a plane.

Graph

A visual representation of a function or data.

Origin

The point where the axes of a coordinate system intersect.

Axis

A line in a coordinate system that shows a variable.

Intersection point

The point where two lines or curves meet.

System of equations

A set of two or more equations with the same variables.

Inequality

A mathematical statement that is not equal.

Perimeter

The total length around a figure.

Area

The amount of surface inside a figure.

Volume

The amount of space inside a three-dimensional object.

Length

The measurement of how long something is.

Height

The measurement of how tall something is.

Width

The measurement of how wide something is.

Depth

The measurement of how deep something is.

Rectangle

A four-sided figure with four right angles.

Square

A rectangle with equal side lengths.

Triangle

A figure with three sides.

Circle

A round figure where all points are equidistant from the center.

Parallelogram

A four-sided figure with opposite sides that are parallel.

Trapezoid

A four-sided figure with at least one pair of parallel sides.

Prism

A three-dimensional figure with two identical bases.

Cylinder

A three-dimensional figure with a circular base.

Pyramid

A three-dimensional figure with a polygonal base and triangular sides that meet at a point.

Sphere

A three-dimensional round figure where all points are equidistant from the center.

Angles

The space between two lines that meet at a point.

Right angle

An angle of 90 degrees.

Acute angle

An angle less than 90 degrees.

Obtuse angle

An angle greater than 90 degrees but less than 180 degrees.

Complementary angles

Two angles whose sum is 90 degrees.

Supplementary angles

Two angles whose sum is 180 degrees.

Parallel lines

Lines that never intersect.

Intersecting lines

Lines that cross each other.

Symmetry

When a figure can be divided into two identical parts.

Rotation

When a figure spins around a point.

Translation

When a figure moves without changing shape or size.

Reflection

When a figure is mirrored across a line.

Similarity

When two figures have the same shape but different sizes.

Equation of a line

An equation that describes a straight line.

Slope

How steep a line is.

Intercept

The point where a line crosses an axis.

Congruence

When two or more objects are equal to each other.

Equality

When two figures have the same shape and size.

Combinations

The number of ways to choose objects without regard to order.

Permutations

The number of ways to arrange objects where order matters.

Statistics

The collection, analysis, and interpretation of data.

Mean

The sum of values divided by the number of values.

Median

The middle value in a sorted list of values.

Variance

A measure of how much the values spread around the mean.

Standard deviation

The square root of variance, showing how much the values vary.