Honors Algebra I Chapter 7 Vocabulary

common ratio

The ratio of successive terms of a geometric sequence

asymptote

a line that a graph approaches but never crosses

Zero exponent property

any nonzero number raised to the zero power is equal to one

Negative exponent property

For every nonzero number (a) and integer (n) a^-n \= 1/a^n

compound interest

a special application of exponential growth

Conjugates

Binomials of the form a√b + c√d and a√b - c√d, where a, b, c and d are rational numbers.

cube root

One of three equal factors of a number.

constant

a monomial that is a real number

Exponential Decay

When an initial amount decreases by the same percent over a given period of time

exponential equation

an equation in which the variables occur as exponents

exponential growth

when an initial amount increases by the same percent over a given period of time

geometric sequence

a sequence in which each term is found by multiplying the previous term by the same number

monomial

A number, a variable, or a product of a number and one or more variables

nth root

If a^n\=b for a positive integer n, then a is an nth root of b

radical expression

An expression that contains a radical sign.

rational exponent

For any positive real number b and any integers m and n\>1, b^m/n\= (n square root b)^m or n square root (b^m), m/n is a rational exponent

rationalizing the denominator

to eliminate radicals from a denominator or fractions from a radicand

recursive formula

each term is formulated from one or more previous terms