Algebra

Question 1

polynomial

Answer 1

an expression containing constants, variables, and exponents but never with negative exponents or with division by a variable.

Question 2

fractional exponent

Answer 2

a fractional exponent such as 9 raised to the 1/n power

means to take the n-th root of the whole number (9)

So… if we set n = 2 then

9 raised to the 1/2 power = 3

Question 3

negative exponent

Answer 3

how many times to divide 1 by the number being raised to that power

So that 8 to -1 power is 1 /8 = 0.125

So that 5 to -3 power is 1 / 5 / 5 /5 or 1 / 5 cubed (125)

5 to -3 power = 1/125 = 0.008

Question 4

an expression

Answer 4

a combination numbers and symbols (such as parenthesis and +- = etc or letters that are variables such x and y or a and b or i)

These combinations are formed according to a set of operations or rules.

Expressions can be simplified by reducing them.

Question 5

coefficient

Answer 5

a number used to multiply a variable

Question 6

Operator

Answer 6

A symbol that shows an operation (what is to be done by one value to another value)

Question 7

constant

Answer 7

a number by itself

Question 8

monomial, binomial, trinomia

Answer 8

names of the polynomials with 1, 2, or 3 terms respectivey

Question 9

like terms

Answer 9

terms whose variables and their exponents are the same but whose coefficiemts may vary.

1/3xy and -2xy and 6xy have different coefficients but corresponding variables with their corresponding exponents

Question 10

exponent

Answer 10

indicates how many times to use that number in multiplication (times itself)

Question 11

exponent of zero

Answer 11

a non-zero number raised to the zero exponent (the zero power) is 1

Question 12

zero raised to zero exponent

Answer 12

Is indeterminate … can be either zero or 1

Question 13

reciprocal

Answer 13

to divide one by a number

Question 14

reciprocal of a fraction

Answer 14

turn the fraction upside down, flip it

Question 15

reciprocal of a variable can also be written as

Answer 15

The negative exponent of a number

1/x = x raised to the -1 power

Question 16

proportion

Answer 16

two ratios (or also written as fractions) are equal

Question 17

percentage

Answer 17

a ratio of parts per 100

Question 18

directly proportional

Answer 18

as one increases the other increases at same rate

symbol - not infinity symbol (♾) but infinity with the right end open (oc)

Question 19

constant of proportionality

Answer 19

the value that relates two numbers in proportion … often called “the constant”

Question 20

inversely proportional

Answer 20

One value decreases at the same rate the other value is increasing

Question 21

proportional to (a multiple)

Answer 21

Constant proportion to the square or cube or any other function

eg distance is proportional to the square of the time it takes an object to fall

d = distance 
k = constant proportion
t = time 

d = k(t)squared

Question 22

inverse square (proportion)

Answer 22

when one value decreases as the inverse of the square of the other value

eg light intensity decreases by the inverse sqaure of distance

Question 23

Expanding is the opposite of

Answer 23

Factoring is the opposite of

Question 24

difference of squares formula

Answer 24

(a+b)(a-b) = a(squared)-b(squared)

a plus b times a minus b equals aSquared minus bSquared

Question 25

factorial identities

Answer 25

there are 7 most useful factoring formulas - find a math deck that has them and study it

Question 26

rational expression

Answer 26

a ratio of two polynomials

in other words a fraction with one polynomial in the numerator and another polynomial in the denominator

x(squared) + 5 / x + 2

Question 27

roots of a rational expression

Answer 27

the points where the expression is equal to zero

Question 28

the conjugate of a binomial

Answer 28

A binomial with its sign changed (either plus to minus or minus to plus)