GCSE Maths Knowledge Organiser Vocabulary

Vocabulary and essential formulas from the GCSE Maths Knowledge Organiser, covering algebraic expressions, geometry, transformations, and statistics.

Y-intercept

The point where a line crosses the vertical axis

Gradient

The measure of the "steepness" of a line

Quadratic expression

A polynomial expression written in the form $ax^2 + bx + c$, where $a$, $b$ and $c$ are numerical coefficients and $a \neq 0$

Parabola

The shape of a quadratic graph

Substitution

The process of replacing variables in an expression of formulae with numbers

Table of values

A schedule to complete which generates coordinates for a given equation of a line or curve, used to calculate $y$ given a value of $x$

Solve

When we find the value of an unknown variable using the inverse and balance method

Turning point

Where a quadratic graph changes direction; the line of symmetry passes through here

Roots

A name for where a quadratic graph crosses the $x$-axis, where $y = 0$

Angle

A measure of rotation, often recorded in degrees

Parallel Lines

Straight lines that are always the same distance apart (equidistant) and never intersect

Transversal

A line that cuts across two or more parallel lines

Alternate angles

Angles on opposite sides of the transversal (forming a 'Z' shape) that are equal

Corresponding angles

Pairs of angles that are found on the same side of the transversal on different intersections that are equal

Co-Interior angles

A pair of angles on the same side of the transversal, enclosed by the parallel lines

Variable

An unknown value, often represented by a letter

Expand

To remove the brackets by multiplying

Factorise

To put the brackets back in by dividing terms by the highest common factor

Interior angle

The angle inside a polygon

Exterior angle

An angle formed outside a polygon at any vertex, created by extending one of the sides attached to that vertex

Sum of interior angles formula

$180 \times (n - 2)$, where $n$ is the number of sides

Exterior angle of a regular polygon formula

$\frac{360}{n}$, where $n$ is the number of sides

Regular polygon

A shape where all sides are equal and all interior angles are equal

Bearings

A measurement using $3$ digits, measured clockwise from the North compass point

Transformation

A geometrical operation that changes the position, size, or orientation of a shape (the object) to create a new shape (the image)

Reflection

A type of transformation that flips a shape in a mirror line (line of reflection) so that each point is the same distance from the mirror line as its reflected point

Rotation

A transformation that turns a shape around a fixed point called the centre of rotation

Translation

A transformation that moves a shape from one position to another by shifting it up/down and left/right

Enlargement

A type of transformation that changes the size of a shape by making it bigger or smaller by multiplying its side lengths by a scale factor

Linear Scale Factor

The multiplicative relationship between sides of similar shapes

Similar Shapes

Same shapes, same angles but different sizes; one shape is an enlargement of the other

Congruent Shapes

Identical shapes (same sides and angles) which can be rotated, reflected or translated to fit exactly on top of each other

Conditions for congruent triangles

SSS (Side-side-side), RHS (Right angle, hypotenuse and one other side), SAS (Side-angle-side), and ASA (Angle-side-angle)

Correlation

A relationship between two variables

Scatter Graph

A graph on which paired observations are plotted and which may indicate a relationship between the variables

Coefficient

The number (or sometimes a letter representing a constant) that a variable is multiplied by, sitting immediately in front of the variable

Line of best fit

A line drawn on a scatter graph to represent the best estimate of an underlying linear relationship between the variables

Reciprocal of 8

$$\frac{1}{8}$$

Vector

A measure of magnitude and direction

Frequency Polygon

A type of frequency diagram depicting grouped data, where frequency is plotted against the midpoint of class intervals

Inequality

A statement that compares two expressions, numbers, or quantities, showing that they are not equal

Column Vector

A method of recording a vector arranged in a single vertical column of numbers in a bracket

Range

Maximum $-$ Minimum

Mode

The most common, the most frequently occurring item in a data set

Median

The middle value found by putting the values in order

Mean

The sum of the values divided by the number of values

Frequency

The number of times a particular value, data point or event occurs

Integer

A whole number

Factors of 100

$1$, $2$, $4$, $5$, $10$, $20$, $25$, $50$, $100$

Line Graph

A way of displaying data to easily see a trend over time