Algebra 1 Vocabulary

Addition property of equality

A property of algebra that states that when equal values are added to both sides of a true equation, the equation continues to be true.

Arithmetic sequence

A number sequence in which the difference between two consecutive terms is a constant.

Axis of symmetry

An imaginary vertical line that passes through the vertex of a parabola.

Base

The number being raised to a power in an exponential expression.

Binomial

A polynomial with only two terms.

Box plot

A graphical way to summarize data and giving the minimum, Q1, median, Q3, and maximum represented by lines.

Coefficient

A number multiplied by a variable expression.

Common difference

In an arithmetic sequence, the difference between consecutive terms.

Common ratio

In a geometric sequence, the ratio between consecutive terms.

Commutative property of addition

The law from arithmetic that states that the order in which two numbers are added does not matter.

Commutative property of multiplication

The law from arithmetic that states that the order in which two numbers are multiplied does not matter.

Completing the square

A method of solving a quadratic equation that involves turning one side of the equation into a perfect square trinomial.

Constant

A number that does not have a variable part.

Correlation coefficient

A number represented by r that measures how well a curve of best fit matches the points in a scatter plot.

Degree of a polynomial

The exponent on the highest power of a polynomial.

Distributive property of multiplication over addition

The rule that allows expressions of the form a(b+c) =a*b+a*c

Division property of equality

A property of algebra that states that when both sides of a true equation are divided by the same non-zero number, the equation continues to be true.

Domain

The numbers that can be input into a function.

Dot plot

A graphical way of representing a data set where each piece of data is represented with a dot.

Elimination method

A way of solving a system of linear equations by combining the two equations in such a way as to eliminate one of the variables.

Equation

Two mathematical expressions with an equals sign between them.

Exponential equation

An equation in which the variable is an exponent.

Exponential function

A function is which the variable is an exponent.

Expression

Numbers and variables that are combined with operations from math.

Factoring a polynomial

Finding two polynomials that can be multiplied to become another polynomial.

Factors

The polynomials that evenly divide into a polynomial.

First quartile

The number in a data set that is bigger than just 25% of numbers in the set.

Function

Something that takes numbers as inputs and outputs numbers.

Geometric sequence

A number sequence in which the ratio between two consecutive terms is a constant.

Graph

A visual way to describe the solution set to an equation.

Greatest common factor

The largest expression that divides evenly into two or more monomials.

Inequality

Like an equation but with a <,>, (including equal to), sign.

Interquartile range

The difference between the number that is the third quartile of a data set and the number that is the first quartile of a data set.

Like terms

Terms that have the same variable part.

Line of best fit

A line that comes closest to the set of points in a scatter plot.

Linear equation

An equation in which th greatest exponent is a 1.

Linear function

A function in which the greatest exponent is a 1.

Mean

The average of the numbers in a data set.

Median

The middle number in a data set after it has been arranged from least to greatest.

Mode

The most frequent number in a data set.

Monomial

A mathematical expression that has a coefficient and/or a variable part.

Multiplication property of equality

A property of algebra that states that when equal values are multiplied by both sides of a true equation, the equation continues to be true.

Ordered pair

Two numbers written in the form (x, y).

Parabola

A “U”-shaped curve that is the graph of the solution set of a quadratic equation.

Perfect square trinomial

A quadratic trinomial of the form x² + bx + (b/2)².

Piecewise function

A function that has multiple rules for determining output values from input values, depending on what the input values are.

Polynomial

The sum of one or more monomials.

Quadratic equation

An equation in which the highest power on a variable is a 2.

Quadratic function

A function in which the highest power on a variable is a 2.

Quadratic polynomial

An polynomial in which the highest power on a variable is a 2.

Range

The set of values that can be output from a function is the range of that function.

Regression

Finding a curve that best fits a scatter plot.

Roots

The roots of an equation are the values that solve that equation.

Sequence

A list of numbers that usually have some kind of pattern.

Slope

The slope of a line is a measure of the line’s steepness.

Slope-intercept from

An equation in the form y = mx + b.

Solution set

The set of numbers or ordered pairs that satisfies an equation.

Substitution method

A method for solving a system of equations in which one variable is isolated in one of the equations, and the expression equal to that variable is substituted for it in the other equation.

Subtraction property of equality

A property of algebra that states that when equal values are subtracted from both sides of a true equation, the equation continues to be true.

System of equations

Two or more equations with two or more unknowns to solve for.

Third quartile

The number in a data set that is greater than just 75% of the numbers in the set.

Translation

A translation of a graph is when the points on it are each shifted the same amount in the same direction.

Trinomial

A polynomial with three terms.

Variable

A letter that represents a value in a mathematical expression.

Vertex

The turning point of a parabola is its vertex.

Vertical line test

A way of testing to see if a graph can represent a function.

x-intercept

The location where a curve crosses the x-axis.

y-intercept

The location where a curve crosses the y-axis.