Mathematical Vocabulary Review

Vocabulary flashcards covering fundamental mathematical terms and definitions ranging from basic arithmetic to geometry and algebra.

Abacus

An early counting tool used for basic arithmetic.

Absolute Value

Always a positive number, it refers to the distance of a number from $0$.

Acute Angle

An angle whose measure is between $0^ ext{o}$ and $90^ ext{o}$, or with less than $90 ext{-degree}$ radians.

Addend

A number involved in an addition problem; numbers being added are called addends.

Algorithm

A procedure or set of steps used to solve a mathematical computation.

Algebra

The branch of mathematics that substitutes letters for numbers to solve for unknown values.

Angle

Two rays sharing the same endpoint (called the angle vertex).

Angle Bisector

The line dividing an angle into two equal angles.

Area

The two-dimensional space taken up by an object or shape, given in square units.

Array

A set of numbers or objects that follow a specific pattern.

Arithmetic

The oldest and most elementary branch of mathematics, focusing on the study of numbers–specifically integers, rational numbers, real numbers, and complex numbers–under the operations of addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division.

Attribute

A characteristic or feature of an object—such as size, shape, color, etc.—that allows it to be grouped.

Average

The average is the same as the mean. Add up a series of numbers and divide the sum by the total number of values to find the average.

Base

The bottom of a shape or three-dimensional object, what an object rests on.

Bar Graph

A graph that represents data visually using bars of different heights or lengths.

Base 10

Number system that assigns place value to numbers.

BEDMAS or PEMDAS

An acronym used to help people remember the correct order of operations for solving algebraic equations. BEDMAS stands for "Brackets, Exponents, Division, Multiplication, Addition, and Subtraction" and PEMDAS stands for "Parentheses, Exponents, Multiplication, Division, Addition, and Subtraction".

Bell Curve

The bell shape created when a line is plotted using data points for an item that meets the criteria of normal distribution. The center of a bell curve contains the highest value points.

Binomial

A polynomial equation with two terms usually joined by a plus or minus sign.

Box and Whisker Plot/Chart

A graphical representation of data that shows differences in distributions and plots data set ranges.

Calculus

The branch of mathematics involving derivatives and integrals, Calculus is the study of motion in which changing values are studied.

Capacity

The volume of substance that a container will hold.

Centimeter

A metric unit of measurement for length, abbreviated as $cm$. Approximately $2.5 ext{ cm}$ is equal to an inch.

Circumference

The complete distance around a circle or a square.

Chord

A segment joining two points on a circle.

Coefficient

A letter or number representing a numerical quantity attached to a term (usually at the beginning); for example, $x$ in $x(a + b)$ or $3$ in $3y$.

Common Factors

A factor shared by two or more numbers, common factors are numbers that divide exactly into two different numbers.

Complementary Angles

Two angles that together equal $90^ ext{o}$.

Complex Numbers

What you get when you combine a real number and an imaginary number ($a + bi$).

Composite Number

A positive integer with at least one factor aside from its own. Composite numbers cannot be prime because they can be divided exactly.

Cone

A three-dimensional shape with only one vertex and a circular base.

Conic Section

The section formed by the intersection of a plane and cone.

Constant

A value that does not change.

Coordinate

The ordered pair that gives a precise location or position on a coordinate plane.

Congruent

Objects and figures that have the same size and shape; they can be turned into one another with a flip, rotation, or turn.

Cosine

In a right triangle, cosine is a ratio that represents the length of a side adjacent to an acute angle to the length of the hypotenuse.

Cylinder

A three-dimensional shape featuring two circle bases connected by a curved tube.

Decagon

A polygon or shape with ten angles and ten straight lines.

Decimal

A real number on the base ten standard numbering system.

Denominator

The bottom number of a fraction. The denominator is the total number of equal parts into which the numerator is being divided.

Degree

The unit of an angle's measure represented with the symbol $^ ext{o}$.

Diagonal

A line segment that connects two vertices in a polygon.

Diameter

A line that passes through the center of a circle and divides it in half.

Difference

The answer to a subtraction problem, in which one number is taken away from another.

Digit

The numerals $0 ext{-}9$ found in all numbers.

Dividend

A number divided into equal parts (inside the bracket in long division).

Divisor

A number that divides another number into equal parts (outside of the bracket in long division).

Edge

A line where two faces meet in a three-dimensional structure.

Ellipse

An ellipse looks like a slightly flattened circle and is also known as a plane curve. Planetary orbits take the form of ellipses.

End Point

The "point" at which a line or curve ends.

Equilateral

A term used to describe a shape whose sides are all of equal length.

Equation

A statement that shows the equality of two expressions by joining them with an equals sign.

Even Number

A number that can be divided or is divisible by $2$.

Event

Often refers to an outcome of probability; it may answer questions about the probability of one scenario happening over another.

Evaluate

To calculate the numerical value.

Exponent

The number that denotes repeated multiplication of a term, shown as a superscript above that term; e.g., the exponent of $3^4$ is $4$.

Expressions

Symbols that represent numbers or operations between numbers.

Face

The flat surfaces on a three-dimensional object.

Factor

A number that divides into another number exactly; e.g., the factors of $10$ are $1, 2, 5, ext{ and } 10$.

Factoring

The process of breaking numbers down into all of their factors.

Factorial Notation

Required multiplication of a number by every number smaller than it, denoted by the symbol $!$; for example, $x!$.

Factor Tree

A graphical representation showing the factors of a specific number.

Fibonacci Sequence

Named after Leonardo Pisano Fibonacci, a sequence beginning with $0$ and $1$ whereby each number is the sum of the two preceding numbers ($0, 1, 1, 2, 3, 5, 8, 13, 21, 34…$).

Figure

Two-dimensional shapes.

Finite

Not infinite; has an end.

Flip

A reflection or mirror image of a two-dimensional shape.

Formula

A rule that numerically describes the relationship between two or more variables.

Fraction

A quantity that is not whole that contains a numerator and denominator; e.g., $rac{1}{2}$.

Frequency

The number of times an event can happen in a given period of time.

Furlong

A unit of measurement representing the side length of one square acre, approximately $rac{1}{8}$ of a mile, $201.17 ext{ m}$, or $220 ext{ yards}$.

Geometry

The study of lines, angles, shapes, and their properties, studying physical shapes and object dimensions.

Graphing Calculator

A calculator with an advanced screen capable of showing and drawing graphs and other functions.

Graph Theory

A branch of mathematics focused on the properties of graphs.

Greatest Common Factor

The largest number common to each set of factors that divides both numbers exactly.

Hexagon

A six-sided and six-angled polygon.

Histogram

A graph that uses bars that equal ranges of values.

Hyperbola

A type of conic section or symmetrical open curve; it is the set of all points where the difference of distance from two fixed points is a positive constant.

Hypotenuse

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

Identity

An equation that is true for variables of any value.

Imaginary Number

A number that, when squared, gives a negative result.

Improper Fraction

A fraction whose numerator is equal to or greater than the denominator, such as $rac{6}{4}$.

Inequality

A mathematical equation expressing inequality containing greater than (>), less than (<,), or not equal to ($eq$) symbols.

Integers

All whole numbers, positive or negative, including zero.

Irrational

A number that cannot be represented as a decimal or fraction because it contains an infinite number of digits that keep repeating, such as $ext{pi}$.

Isosceles

A polygon with two sides of equal length.

Kilometer

A unit of measure equal to $1000 ext{ meters}$.

Knot

A closed three-dimensional circle that is embedded and cannot be untangled.

Like Terms

Terms with the same variable and same exponents/powers.

Like Fractions

Fractions with the same denominator.

Line

A straight infinite path joining an infinite number of points in both directions.

Line Segment

A straight path that has two endpoints, a beginning, and an end.

Linear Equation

An equation that contains two variables and can be plotted on a graph as a straight line.

Line of Symmetry

A line that divides a figure into two equal shapes.

Logic

Sound reasoning and the formal laws of reasoning.

Logarithm

The power to which a base must be raised to produce a given number; the opposite of exponentiation ($n^x = a$ implies the logarithm of $a$, base $n$, is $x$).

Mean

Add up a series of numbers and divide the sum by the total number of values to find the mean.

Median

The middle value in a series of numbers ordered from least to greatest; if the list is even, it is the sum of the two middle numbers divided by two.

Midpoint

A point that is exactly halfway between two locations.

Mixed Numbers

Whole numbers combined with fractions or decimals, such as 3 rac{1}{2} or $3.5$.

Mode

The values in a list of numbers that occur most frequently.