Math Common Core Vocab 9-12 Flashcards
Learn math terms related to common core exam
A flat shape that only has length and height, but not width (depth)
2‐dimensional figure
A table in which frequencies correspond to two variables
2‐way frequency table
solid shapes; having points or sides that are not all on one plane
3‐dimensional
If two angles of one triangle are congruent to two corresponding
angles in another triangle, then the triangles are similar
AA similarity
How far a number is from zero
absolute value
An angle with a measure greater than 0° and less than 90°
acute angle
A mathematical phrase that can contain ordinary numbers, variables
(like x or y) and operators (like add, subtract, multiply, and divide)
algebraic expression
Half the maximum peak‐to‐peak value of a periodic function
amplitude
Examining parts to understand how they work together
analyze
A figure formed by two rays with the same endpoint (vertex)
angle
If two angles and the included side of one triangle are congruent to
the two angles and the included side of another triangle, then the
two triangles are congruent.
Angle‐Side‐Angle (ASA)
A value that is very close but not exactly to another number
approximate
Part of the circumference (edge) of a circle
arc
The amount of surface inside a closed shape. measured in square units
area
The measure of the interior surface. The formula is a=∏r² (pie x
radius squared)
area of a circle
The measure of the interior surface. The formula is a=½bh ((base x
height) ÷ by 2)
area of a triangle
A sequence of numbers that has a constant difference between every
two consecutive terms
arithmetic sequence
The property that states that when adding three or more real numbers, the sum is always the same regardless of their grouping
Associative Property of Addition
The property that states that when multiplying three or more real numbers, the product is always the same regardless of their
grouping
Associative Property of Multiplication
a line that a graph gets closer and closer to, but never touches or
crosses
asymptote
A calculated “central” value of a set of numbers
average
The horizontal and vertical number lines used in a coordinate plane
system
axis
A flat surface of a solid figure by which the figure is measured or
classified
base (of a solid figure)
Binomial Theorem is used to expand powers of binomials
binomial Theorem
To divide into two equal sections or two equal halves
bisect
A line that cuts another line segment into two equal parts
bisector of a line
A diagram or graph using a number line to show the distribution of a
set of data
box plot
changes in x cause changes in y in a list of data
causation
A straight line connecting two points on a curve or curved shape
chord
Having the shape of a perfect circle, or resembling a circle in shape
circular
The distance around a circle; the perimeter of a circle
circumference
A geometric figure that is drawn around another geometric figure so
as to touch all its vertices
circumscribed
to sort into categories or to arrange into groups by attribute
classify
The number which is multiplied by one or more variables or powers
of variables in the term
coefficient
An arrangement of objects in which order does not matter
combination
the constant ratio between any term and the term after it
common ratio
This property means that addends can be added in any order and the
sum is always the same
Commutative Property of Addition
This property means that factors can be multiplied in any order and
the product is always the same
Commutative Property of Multiplication
To find how things are different or the same
compare
Two angles that add up to equal 90°
complementary angles
the process of converting a quadratic equation into a perfect square
trinomial by adding or subtracting terms on both sides
complete the square
A number that can be written by the sum or difference of a real
number and an imaginary number
complex number
Describes the probability resulting from two or more simple events
compound events
Finding an answer by using mathematics or logic
computation
To solve problems that use numbers
compute
A statement that follows logically from other facts
conclusion
The probability of some event (A), given the occurrence of some other event (B)
conditional probability
The relative frequencies placed in the body of a two‐way relative
frequency table
conditional relative frequency
The volume (V) of a cone is equal to 1/3πr2h
cone volume formula
Having exactly the same shape and size
congruent
angles that have the exact same measurement
congruent angle
Sides that are exactly the same size
congruent side
Triangles that are exactly the same size
congruent triangle
A group of curves obtained when a plane intersects a double cone
conic sections
Two binomials whose only difference is the sign of one term
conjugate
a linear function of the form y = b , where b is a constant
constant function
The process of building something
construction
A pair of numbers used to determine the position of a point on a
graph
coordinate
A set of lines or curves used to define a coordinate system
coordinate axes
The plane containing the “x” axis and “y” axis
coordinate plane
The degree to which two variables are related
correlation
When two lines are crossed by another line (which is called the
Transversal), the angles in matching corners are called corresponding
angles
corresponding angle
If the position of two sides is the same in two figures, they are called
corresponding sides
corresponding side
In a right triangle, the ratio of the length of the side adjacent to an
acute angle to the length of the hypotenuse
cosine
The plane figure obtained by the intersection of a solid by a plane
cross‐section
A value that, when used in a multiplication three times, gives that
number
cube root
a line that is rounded
curve
A solid object with 2 identical flat ends that are circular and 1 curved
side
cylinder
A collection of facts, such as values or measurements
data
Different ways of displaying data in charts, tables, or graphs;
including pictographs, single‐ or double‐bar graphs, line graphs, line
plots, or Venn diagrams
Data displays/graphs
An item of factual information resulting from measurement or
research
data point
An interval where a function’s slope is negative
decreasing intervals
The unit of measure for angles or temperature (°)
degrees (°)
to find or figure out
determine
A straight line going through the center of a circle connecting two
points on the circumference
diameter
Not the same; unlike
different/difference
a change in size of a figure without changing its angles
dilation
The formula for finding the distance between two points
distance formula
A number outside the parenthesis can be multiplied to each term
within the parenthesis. Ex. a(b + c) = ab + ac
distributive property
All the values that go into a function
domain
a graph that summarizes data by the number of dots above each data value on the horizontal axis
dot plot
A stretched out or smashed circle
ellipse
Says two things are the same, using math symbols
equation
Various equations that represent a line. In all equations, slope is
represented by m, the x‐intercept by a, and the y‐intercept by b
equation of a line
Equally distant
equidistant
a triangle with 3 equal sides and 3 equal angles
equilateral triangle
Expressions that have the same value but are presented in a different
format using the properties of numbers
equivalent expression
To guess closely; an answer that is close to the exact answer
estimate/estimation
The main area of study in high school geometry. This is the geometry
of axioms, theorems, and two‐column proofs. It includes the study of
points, lines, triangles, quadrilaterals, other polygons, circles,
spheres, prisms, pyramids, cones, cylinders, etc
Euclidean geometry
to solve or find the value of an expression
evaluate
A mathematical notation indicating the number of times a quantity is
multiplied by itself
exponent
a decrease that follows an exponential function
exponential decay
A function of the form y = a∙bx where a > 0 and either 0 < b < 1 or b >
1
exponential function
an increase that follows an exponential function
exponential growth
Numbers, symbols grouped together to show the value of something
expression
A number that is multiplied by another number to find a product
factor
The sequence of numbers 1, 1, 2, 3, 5, 8, 13, 21, 34, . . . for which the
next term is found by adding the previous two terms
Fibonacci sequence
Describes a set which does not have an infinite number of elements
finite
A mathematical rule written using symbols, usually as an equation
describing a certain relationship between quantities
formula
A table that shows how often each item, number, or range of
numbers occurs in a set of data
frequency table
A special relationship between values: Each input values gives back
exactly one output value
function
f(x); an alternative to the “y=” equation
function notation
The theorem that establishes that, using complex numbers, all
polynomials can be factored
Fundamental Theorem of Algebra
A figure formed by any combination of points, lines, planes, curves,
or surfaces in one, two, or three dimensions
geometric figure
A sequence which has a constant ratio between terms
geometric sequence
A sequence made by multiplying some number each time
geometric series
A polygon with 6 sides
hexagon
A bar chart representing a frequency distribution
histogram
Hyperbola is a conic section in which difference of distances of all the
points from two fixed points (called foci) is constant
hyperbola
A square matrix which has a 1 for each element on the main diagonal
and 0 for all other elements
identity matrix
A interval where the function’s slope is positive
increasing intervals
A conclusion drawn from multiple observations
inference
The starting point of a vector that is being represented by a line segment
initial point of a vector
The value substituted for a variable in an expression
input
To draw on the inside of, touching as many points as possible
inscribe
All whole numbers (both positive and negative) and zero
integer
An exponent that is any integer; positive, negative, or 0
integer exponent
The point at which a line or curve intersects an axis
intercept
An angle inside a shape
interior angle
The difference between the upper and lower quartiles; represents
the middle half of the data in the set
interquartile range
The point at which lines or curves meet; the line where planes meet
intersection
Opposite in effect; the reverse of
inverse
A number that cannot be written as a simple fraction ‐ the decimal
goes on forever without repeating
irrational numbers
An equation relating the cosine of an interior angle and the lengths
of the sides of a triangle
law of cosines
Equations relating the sines of the interior angles of a triangle and
the corresponding opposite sides
law of sines
the part of a line consisting of two endpoints and all points between
them
line segment
An equation that makes a straight line when it is graphed
linear equation
A function that can be graphically represented on the coordinate
plane by a straight line
linear function
The logarithm base b of a number x is the power to which b must
be raised in order to equal x
logarithm
The inverse of the exponential function
logarithmic function
Standard procedure suitable for dividing simple or complex multi‐
digit numbers. it breaks down a division problem into a series of
easier steps
long division
The length of a vector
magnitude of a vector
The entries in the “total” row and “total” column of a two‐way
relative frequency table
marginal relative frequency
A rectangular (or square) array of numbers. Matrices can be written using brackets or parentheses
matrix/matrices
The average; A measure of center in a set of numerical data,
computed by adding the values in a list and then dividing by the
number of values in the list
mean
The middle value of a set of data that are arranged in order of size
median
The midline is a horizontal axis that is used as the reference line
about which the graph of a periodic function oscillates
midline
The point on a line segment equidistant from the endpoints
midpoint of a line segment
The process of representing real life situations through equations or
inequalities
modeling
Two numbers that when multiplied together equal 1. example 4
multiplied by 1/4
multiplicative inverses
A line on which ordered numbers can be written or visualized and
may include negative numbers
number line
The math processes of addition, subtraction, multiplication, and
division
operation
The side across from the reference angle in a right triangle
opposite side
The point of intersection of the x‐ and y‐axes in a rectangular coordinate system, where the x‐coordinate and y‐coordinate are both zero (0)
origin
One of the possible results of a probability experiment
outcome
A value that “lies outside” (is much smaller or larger than) most of
the other values in a set of data
outlier
A special curve, shaped like an arch, the graph of a quadratic
equation
parabola
Line that are a constant distance apart, never intersecting
parallel lines
A quadrilateral in which both pairs of opposite sides are parallel
parallelogram
the sum of the squares of the lengths of the four sides of a
parallelogram equals the sum of the squares of the lengths of the
two diagonals
parallelogram rule
The arrangement of the binomial coefficients in a pattern of triangle
Pascal’s Triangle
The distance around the outside of a figure or shape
perimeter
Lines that form a 90° angle where they cross
perpendicular lines
A function that uses different formulas for different parts of its
domain
piecewise function
Locating and marking a point when given its coordinates
plot
The point at which two lines intersect, or cross
point of intersection
The positive x ‐axis
polar axis
An equation for a curve written in terms of the polar coordinates r
and θ
polar equation
A closed figure that has three or more sides, no curved lines, and no
intersections
polygon
An expression made with constants, variables and exponents, which
are combined using addition, subtraction and multiplication
polynomial
A group of objects, events, or people studied in order to collect data
population
Intervals written as (x,y) where x is positive
positive intervals
How likely it is for an event to happen
probability
The result of multiplying numbers together
product
A solid shape with polygon as a base and triangular faces that taper
to a point (vertex)
pyramid
In a right angled triangle the square of the hypotenuse is equal to the
sum of the squares of the other two sides
Pythagorean theorem
An equation that includes only second degree polynomials
quadratic equation/function
A formula for the roots of a quadratic equation
quadratic formula
A polygon with four sides and four angles
quadrilateral
The result of dividing one number by another
quotient
A unit for measuring angles. 180° = π radians, and 360° = 2π radians
radian
The symbol √ , which is used to represent the square root or nth root
of a number
radical
The distance from the center of a circle or a sphere to any point on
the circle or a sphere
radius/radii
a sample in which every individual or element in the population has
an equal chance of being selected
random sample
The difference between the greatest (maximum) and least
(minimum) values in a set of data
range
The ratio of the change in the output value and change in the input
value of a function
rate of change
A comparison of two numbers, often written as a fraction
ratio
An expression that can be written as a polynomial divided by a
polynomial
rational expression
A function that can be written as a polynomial divided by a
polynomial
rational function
Any number that can be written as a fraction
rational number
The set of all rational and irrational numbers
real number
A flip of a flat figure across a line that creates a mirror image
reflection
a triangle with one angle measuring 90°
right triangle
A transformation of a figure by turning it about a point or axis. The
amount of rotation is usually expressed in the number of degrees
(e.g., a 90° rotation). The direction of the rotation is usually
expressed as clockwise or counterclockwise. Also called a turn
rotation
the set of all possible outcomes of a probability experiment
sample space
A survey of a population made by using only a portion of the
population
sample survey
Any real number, or any quantity that can be measured using a single
real number
scalar
The ratio of any two corresponding lengths in two similar geometric
figures
scale factor
A graph of plotted points that show the relationship between two
sets of data
scatter plot
When two triangles have corresponding angles and sides that are
congruent, the triangles are congruent
side‐angle‐side (SAS)
When two triangles have corresponding sides that are congruent, the
triangles are congruent
side‐side‐side (SSS)
The length of the opposite side divided by the length of the
hypotenuse
sine
The ratio of change in the vertical axis (y‐axis) to change in the horizontal axis (x‐axis) in the form rise or Dy. Also, the constant, m, in the linear equation for the slope‐intercept form
slope
Any and all value(s) of the variable(s) that satisfies an equation,
inequality, system of equations, or system of inequalities
solution set
To work out the answer
solve
The total amount of space enclosed in a sphere
sphere volume
A numerical summary of how tightly the values are clustered around
the “center”
spread
The square root of a number is a nonnegative number which when
multiplied by itself equals the given number
square root
The standard deviation is defined as the average amount by which
individual data items in a data set differ from the arithmetic mean of
all the data in the set
standard deviation
A branch of applied mathematics concerned with collecting,
organizing, and interpreting data
statistics
A step function is a special type of function whose graph is a series of
line segments
step function
Describes a geometric figure or a graph consisting of two parts that
are congruent to each other
symmetric
The length of the opposite side divided by the length of the adjacent
side
tangent
The end point of a vector that is being represented by a line
segment
terminal point
An assertion that can be proved true using the rules of logic
theorem
the probability of an event when all outcomes are equally likely
theoretical probability
a change in the size, shape, or position of a figure
transformation
A transformation in which every point in a figure is moved in the
same direction and by the same distance. Also called a slide
translation
A quadrilateral with exactly one pair of parallel sides
trapezoid
The six functions sine, cosine, tangent, cosecant, secant, and
cotangent
trigonometric function
A ratio that describes a relationship between sides and angles of
triangles
trigonometric ratios
Any symbol, usually a letter, which could represent a number
variable
A quantity, drawn as an arrow, with both direction and magnitude
vector
The rate of change of the position of an object
velocity
A corner point of a geometric figure. For a polygon, vertices are
where adjacent sides meet. For an angle, the vertex is where the two
rays making up the angle meet
vertex/vertices
congruent angles that form opposite each other when two lines
intersect
vertical angle
The amount of space taken up by an object, usually calculated by:
base x height x width
volume
The position of a point according to the x‐axis
x‐coordinate
A matrix for which all elements are equal to 0
zero matrix
