Math Dictionary Vocabulary

Vocabulary flashcards covering foundational mathematical terms and their exact definitions from the Math Dictionary.

Absolute Value

The distance a number is from zero

Area

Number of square units needed to fill a space

Ascending

Ordered from least to greatest

Axes

2 intersecting perpendicular lines that divide the coordinate plane into 4 quadrants

Chord

Line segment connecting any 2 points on a circle

Circumference

Distance around a circle

Coefficient

The numerical factor in a term

Congruent

Same shape and same size

Coordinate Plane

A plane containing two perpendicular axes ($x$ and $y$) intersecting at a point called the origin ($(0,0)$)

Denominator

The bottom number in a fraction showing the number of parts the whole is divided into

Descending

Ordered from greatest to least

Diameter

Chord that goes through the center of a circle

Difference

Answer to a subtraction problem

Equation

Mathematical sentence stating that two expressions are equal

Equivalent

Equal/the same

Exponents

A number that tells you how many times to multiply the base by itself

Expression

Math statement without an equal sign

Horizontal

Line moving left to right ($x$ axis)

Improper Fraction

Numerator is equal to or greater than the denominator

Inequality

A mathematical statement that states expressions are unequal ($<, >, \le, \ge$)

Integer

A set of whole numbers and their opposites

Inverse

Opposite, reverse operations

Line of Symmetry

Divides a figure into 2 congruent parts

Mean

Point where the data distribution is balanced (numerical average)

Median

The middle of a data set ranked in order

Mixed Number

Written in 2 parts - whole number and proper fraction

Mode

Piece of data that occurs the most ofen

Negative Integer

Numbers to the left of zero

Numerator

Number above the line of a fraction, showing the number of parts of the whole

Order of Operations

The order in which mathematical operations should be done (GEMDAS)

Ordered Pair

Represents a point on a coordinate plane ($(x,y)$)

Origin

Middle of the coordinate plane - where the $x$ and $y$ axes meet ($(0,0)$)

Outlier

Data value that is an abnormal distance relative to other values

Percent

Per 100/out of 100/hundredths

Perfect Square

A number that results from multiplying an integer by itself. /it can be represented in the shape of a square

Perimeter

Distance around any plane figure

Perpendicular

2 lines that meet at a right angle (90 degrees)

Pi

Ratio of the circumference of a circle to its diameter

Positive Integer

Numbers to the right of zero

Probability

The chance that a particular outcome will occur

Product

Answer to a multiplication problem

Proper Fraction

Numerator is less than the denominator

Proportion

Statement of equality between two ratios

Quadrant

4 regions created by the $x$ and $y$ axes

Quotient

Answer to a division problem

Radius

Line segment connecting the center of a circle to any point on the circle

Range

Difference between the highest and lowest numbers in the data set

Rate

Ratio that involves 2 different units and how they relate to each other (inches per foot)

Ratio

Comparison of two quantities

Reciprocal

Two numbers whose product is one

Similar

Same shape, different size

Simplest Form

To reduce the numerator and denominator in a fraction to the smallest numbers possible

Sum

Answer to an addition problem

Term

A number, variable, product, or quotient in an expression of sums and/or differences.

Unit Rate

How many units of the first quantity of a ratio correspond to one unit of the second quantity

Variable

A symbol used to represent an unknown quantity

Vertical

Line moving up and down ($y$ axis)