Math Vocab Flashcards
Perimeter
The distance around the outside of a shape.
Circumference
The perimeter of a circle.
Power
A short form of writing repeated multiplication of the same number by itself.
Exponential Form
A shorthand method for writing numbers expressed as repeated multiplications.
Exponent
The use of a raised number to denote repeated multiplication of a base.
Square Root
A number that is multiplied by itself to give another number.
Right Triangle
Acute Triangle
Obtuse Triangle
A triangle who’s angle measures 90°.
A triangle who’s angle measures less than 90°.
A triangle who’s angle measures more than 90°.
Equilateral Triangle
Isosceles Triangle
Scalene Triangle
All sides are equal in length.
Two sides are equal in length.
All sides are different in length.
Hypotenuse
The longest side of a right triangle.
The Pythagorean Theorem
In a right triangle, the square of the length of the hypotenuse is equal to the sum of the squares of the two shorter side lengths. (a2 + b2 = c2)
Volume
The amount of space that an object occupies, measured in cubic units (written as a 3).
Rectangular Prism
The mathematical name for a box with right angles at every corner.
Capacity
The greatest volume that a container can hold, usually measured in litres, or millilitres.
Sphere
A round ball-shaped object. All points on its surface are the same distance from a fixed point called the centre.
Surface Area
The number of square-units (written as 2) needed to cover the surface of a three-dimensional object.
Net
A two dimensional pattern that can be cut out, folded, and taped/glued to form a three-dimensional shape.
Hypothesis
A possible answer to a question.
Data
Answers to surveys or results of experiments or other tests.
Primary Sources
Use of a survey or an experiment to collect your own data.
Secondary Sources
Information that has been collected by someone else.
Primary data-gathering methods
When you gather your own data to test a hypothesis.
Secondary data-gathering methods
When you use someone else’s data to test a hypothesis.
Population
In data analysis, the entire group that is being studied.
Sample
A small group chosen from a population and examined in order to make predictions about the population.
Sampling Error
The difference between the results of a survey and the truth.
Simple Random Sampling
A method of choosing a fixed number of people from a population. Each person has the same chance of being chosen. For example, drawing names from a hat.
Systematic Random Sampling
A method of choosing, in a predetermined way, a fixed number of people from a population. For example, choosing every tenth person on a list.
Stratified Random Sampling
A population is divided into groups, and proportional samples are randomly selected from within each group.
Frequency
The number of times a measure occurs in a data set.
Bar graph
A graph that uses bars to represent data.
Single-variable data
Data in which there is just one data list.
Two-variable data
A set of data with two lists of data. Each entry in one list is related in some way to an entry in the other list.
Broken-line graph
A graph that relates two variables as ordered pairs, with consecutive points joined by line segments.
Mean
The sum of a set of values divided by the number of values.
Median
The middle value when data are arranged in order from least to greatest. If there is an even number of pieces of data, then the median is the average or mean of the two middle values.
Mode
The value that occurs most frequently in a set of data. For 1,2,3,3,8, the mode is 3.
Measures of Central Tendency
A value that represents the “average” of a set of data. It can be the mean, median, or mode.
Outliers
A data point that does not fit the pattern of the other data.
Scatter Plot
A graph showing two-variable data as points plotted on a coordinate grid.
Independent Variable
In a relation, the variable that you need to know first. Its value determines the value of the dependent variable. On a coordinate grid, the values of the independent variable are on the horizontal axis.
Dependent Variable
In a relation, the variable whose value depends on the value of the other variable (the independent variable). On a coordinate grid, the values of the dependent variable are on the vertical axis.
Relation
An identified pattern, or relationship, between two variables. It may be expressed as ordered pairs, a table of values, a graph, or an equation.
X-coordinates
The first number in the ordered pair describing a point on a Cartesian plane.
Y-coordinates
The second number in the ordered pair describing a point on a Cartesian plane.
Ordered Pair
A pair of numbers, such as (2,5), used to locate a point on the coordinate plane.
Origin
The point of intersection of the x-axis and the y-axis on a coordinate grid. The point (0,0).
Equivalent Rational Numbers
Numbers such as -1 ½ and -1.5 that represent the same rational number.
Rational Numbers
A number that can be expressed as the quotient of two integers, where the divisor is not zero.
Irrational Numbers
An irrational number cannot be expressed as a ratio between two numbers and it cannot be written as a simple fraction because there is not a finite number of numbers when written as a decimal. Instead, the numbers in the decimal would go on forever, without repeating.
Ratio
A comparison of two quantities with the same units.
Rate
A comparison of two quantities expressed in different units.
Equivalent Ratios
Ratios such as 1:3, 2:6, and 3:9 that represent the same division of the whole.
Simplest Form (of a fraction)
A fraction whose numerator and denominator have no common factors other than 1.
Simplest Form (of a ratio)
The terms of the ratio are whole numbers that have no common factors other than 1.
Unit Rate
A comparison of two quantities in which the second term is 1. For example, $5 per ticket, or 30km/h.
Simplest Form (of an algebraic expression)
An expression with no like terms. For example, 2x + 7 is in simplest form, 5x + 1 + 6 -3x is not.
Direct Variation
A relationship between two variables in which one variable is a constant multiple of the other.
Constant of Variation
In a direct variation, the ratio of corresponding values of the variables.
Interpolation
To estimate values lying between given data. To interpolate from a graph means to estimate coordinates of points between those that are plotted.
Extrapolation
Estimate values lying outside the given data. To extrapolate from a graph means to estimate coordinates of points beyond those that are plotted.
Partial Variation
A relationship between two variables in which one variable equals a constant multiple of the other, plus a constant value.
Fixed Part
A part in a partial variation, which does not change.
Variable Part
A part in a partial variation, which does change.
Linear Relation
A relation between two variables that appears as a straight line when graphed on the coordinate plane.
First Differences
Differences between consecutive y-values in tables of values with evenly spaced x-values.
Slope
A measure of the steepness of a line.
Rise
The vertical distance between two points.
Run
The horizontal distance between two points.
Positive Slope
On a graph, a line that rises to the right has a positive slope.
Negative Slope
On a graph, a line that rises to the left has a negative slope.
Speed
The rate of change in distance compared to change in time. The slope of a distance-time graph.
X-intercept
The x-coordinate of the point where a line or curve crosses the x-axis. At this point, y=0. Its usually written as “a”.
Y-intercept
The y-coordinate of the point where a line or curve crosses the y-axis. At this point, x=0.
Slope-intercept form
The equation of a line with slope m and y-intercept b is y=mx+b.
Parallel Line
Lines in the same plane that never meet. On a graph, parallel lines have the same slope.
Perpendicular Line
Two line that cross at 90°. On a graph, perpendicular lines have the slopes that are negative reciprocals (their product is -1).
Standard Notation
A number or measure is written out in full: 1,430,000,000 km
Scientific Notation
A power of ten is used to write the number more briefly: 1.43 x 109 km
Variable
A letter used to represent a value that can change or vary. For example, t is the variable in the expression 2t +3.
Term
A number or a variable, or the product of numbers and variables.
Coefficient
The number by which a variable is multiplied.
Variable Term
A term that contains a variable. Its value changes when the value of the variable changes.
Constant Term
A term that contains no variables. Its value does not change.
Polynomial
An algebraic expression formed by adding or subtracting terms.
Like Terms
Terms that have the same variables raised to the same exponent.
Unlike Terms
Terms that have different variables, or the same variable but different exponents.
Exterior Angles
An angle contained between one side of a polygon and the extension of an adjacent side.
Alternate Angles
Pairs of equal angles formed on either side of a transversal crossing pair of parallel lines.
Corresponding Angles
Pairs of equal angles, in corresponding positions formed by a transversal crossing a pair of parallel lines.
Co-interior Angles
Pairs of supplementary angles formed between a pair of parallel lines by a transversal.
Transversal
A line that crosses or intersects two or more lines.
Bisect (a line segment)
Divide a line segment into two equal parts.
Acute Angle
An angle whose measure is less than 90°.
Acute Triangle
A triangle in which each of the three interior angles is less than 90°.
Complementary Angles
Angles whose sum is 90°.
Supplementary Angles
Angles whose sum is 180°.
