SAT Math Vocabulary - Warwick Institute

A complete bank of mathematics vocabulary terms for SAT preparation, defining key algebraic, geometric, and arithmetic concepts in English.

ONE-HALF (A HALF)

The fraction represented as $1/2$.

ONE-FIFTH (A FIFTH)

The fraction represented as $1/5$.

TWO-THIRDS

The fraction represented as $2/3$.

THREE-FOURTHS (THREE QUARTERS)

The fraction represented as $3/4$.

ACUTE

A term describing an angle that measures less than $90^\circ$.

ALTITUDE

The height of a geometric figure, typically measured as a perpendicular distance from the base to the opposite vertex.

ADJACENT

Lying next to or near something else; in geometry, angles that share a common side and vertex.

APPRECIATE

To increase in value over time.

ARC

A portion of the circumference of a circle.

ARITHMETIC MEAN

The average of a set of numerical values, calculated by dividing the sum of the values by their count.

RECTANGULAR COORDINATES

A system for locating points on a plane using two perpendicular axes ($x$ and $y$).

ASCENDING

Arranged in order from the smallest value to the largest value.

DIVISOR

The number by which another number (the dividend) is divided.

AXIS (plural: AXES)

A fixed reference line for the measurement of coordinates.

BISECT

To divide a geometric figure, such as a line segment or angle, into two equal parts.

CHORD

A straight line segment whose endpoints both lie on the circumference of a circle.

EQUILATERAL

A polygon (usually a triangle) in which all sides are of equal length.

COEFFICIENT

A numerical or constant quantity placed before and multiplying the variable in an algebraic expression.

Y-INTERCEPT

The point where a graph intersects the $y$-axis (where $x = 0$).

CONGRUENT

Geometric figures that have the identical shape and size.

COMPLEMENTARY

Two angles whose measures sum to exactly $90^\circ$.

CONSTANT

A value that does not change.

CROSS SECTION

The surface or shape exposed by making a straight cut through a solid object.

CUBE

A three-dimensional solid with six equal square faces, or a number raised to the third power ($x^3$).

CYLINDER

A solid geometric figure with straight parallel sides and a circular or oval cross-section.

DENOMINATOR

The bottom number in a fraction, representing the total number of equal parts.

DEPRECIATE

To decrease in value over time.

DESCENDING

Arranged in order from the largest value to the smallest value.

DIAGONAL

A straight line joining two opposite corners of a square, rectangle, or other straight-sided shape.

DIAMETER

A straight line passing from side to side through the center of a circle or sphere.

DIFFERENCE

The result obtained by subtracting one number from another.

RECTANGULAR SOLID

A three-dimensional figure with six rectangular faces.

EQUATION

A mathematical statement asserting the equality of two expressions.

EVEN

An integer that is divisible by $2$ without a remainder.

PARALLELOGRAM

A four-sided plane rectilinear figure with opposite sides parallel.

HORIZONTAL

Parallel to the plane of the horizon; level.

HYPOTENUSE

The longest side of a right-angled triangle, opposite the right angle.

INEQUALITY

A mathematical statement that uses symbols such as $<$ (less than) or $>$ (greater than) to compare two values.

VERTICES (singular: VERTEX)

The points where two or more curves, lines, or edges meet; corners.

INTEGER

A whole number that can be positive, negative, or zero.

INTERCEPT

The point at which a line or curve crosses an axis.

INTERIOR ANGLE

An angle inside a polygon at one of its vertices.

ISOSCELES TRIANGLE

A triangle that has at least two sides of equal length.

LEGS OF RIGHT TRIANGLE

The two sides of a right triangle that form the right angle.

LINEAR EQUATION

An equation between two variables that gives a straight line when plotted on a graph.

MEDIAN

The middle value in a list of numbers ordered from least to greatest.

RADIUS (plural: RADII)

A straight line from the center to the circumference of a circle or sphere.

MODE

The value that appears most frequently in a data set.

RATIO

A relationship between two amounts showing the number of times one value contains or is contained within the other.

NUMERATOR

The top number in a fraction, representing the number of parts being considered.

OCTAGON

A polygon with eight sides and eight angles.

ODD

An integer that is not divisible by $2$.

INCLUSIVELY

Including the specified starting and ending values of a range.

PENTAGON

A polygon with five sides and five angles.

PERIMETER

The continuous line forming the boundary of a closed geometric figure.

PERPENDICULAR

At an angle of $90^\circ$ to a given line, plane, or surface.

PRIME

A natural number greater than $1$ that has no positive divisors other than $1$ and itself.

PROBABILITY

The extent to which an event is likely to occur, often measured by the ratio of favorable cases to the whole number of cases possible.

PRODUCT

The result of multiplying two or more numbers.

PROPORTION

A mathematical statement that two ratios are equal.

QUADRATIC EQUATION

An equation of the second degree, which contains at least one term that is squared ($ax^2 + bx + c = 0$).

QUOTIENT

A result obtained by dividing one quantity by another.

RECIPROCAL

Inverted form of a number ($1/x$); one of a pair of numbers that, when multiplied together, equal $1$.

CIRCUMFERENCE

The enclosing boundary or distance around a circle.

RIGHT TRIANGLE

A triangle that contains one right angle ($90^\circ$).

REMAINDER

The amount 'left over' after performing a division that does not result in a whole number.

RHOMBUS

A parallelogram with four equal sides.

SUPPLEMENTARY

Two angles whose measures sum to exactly $180^\circ$.

SCALENE

A triangle in which all three sides have different lengths.

SCATTER PLOT DIAGRAM

A type of plot using Cartesian coordinates to display values for typically two variables for a set of data.

SIMULTANEOUS EQUATION

A set of equations that are all satisfied by the same values of the variables.

SLOPE

A surface of which one end or side is at a higher level than another; in math, the ratio of the vertical change to the horizontal change.

SQUARE

A plane figure with four equal straight sides and four right angles, or the product of a number multiplied by itself ($x^2$).

SUBSTITUTE

The process of replacing a variable with a specific value or another expression.

SUM

The total amount resulting from the addition of two or more numbers.

FACTORIZE

To resolve a number or expression into its constituent factors.

TRAPEZOID

A quadrilateral with at least one pair of parallel sides.

VARIABLE

A symbol (usually a letter) used to represent a value that can change or is unknown.

WHOLE NUMBER

The set of non-negative integers including zero ($0, 1, 2, 3...$).

X-INTERCEPT

The point where a graph intersects the $x$-axis (where $y = 0$).