Mathematical Dictionary

By

Zahoor Ul Hassan Jafferi

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Mathematical Dictionary
By Zahoor Ul Hassan Jafferi
Date:-DEC.21,2005.

Mathematical "A" Words

absolute value The absolute value of a number is the distance that number is from zero. The absolute value of a positive number or zero is that number. The absolute value of a negative number is the opposite of that number, and the absolute value of zero is zero which is neither positive or negative. Ex: |3| = 3, and |-3| = 3, |0| = 0 .

Both 3 and -3 are 3 jumps away from zero, so they have the same absolute value of 3. The absolute value bars | |, act as grouping symbols. You must simplify any expressions within these bars before finding the final absolute value. Ex: |3-7| = |-4| = 4. acre A unit of area often used to measure plots of land. One acre is equivalent to exactly 43,560 square feet, or 4,840 square yards, or 1/640 of a square mile, or about 4,047 square meters. acute angle An angle whose measure is between 0 and 90. We like to think of them as the "cute" skinny angles.

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addend A number to be added.

Addition Property of Equality If a = b, then a + c = b + c. Add the same thing to both sides of an equation and you still have an equation. Ex: 3 = 12/4 7 + 3 = 12/4 + 7 10 = 10 additive identity The number zero. When you add zero to any number, you do not change its identity, thus the name, additive identity. Additive Identity Property of Zero For any number n: n + 0 = n. If you add zero to any other number, you do not change its identity. Additive Inverse The number, which when added to a number, gives a sum of 0. The additive inverse of n is denoted -n. Also called opposite. Add-opp Property of Subtraction For any numbers a and b: a - b = a + -b. In words, subtracting b is the same as adding the opposite of b. adjacent angles Two nonstraight and nonzero angles with a common side interior to the angle formed by the noncommon sides.

adjacent sides In a polygon, two sides with an endpoint in common. adjacent vertices In a polygon, endpoints of a side. algebraic expression An expression that contains a variable alone or with numbers and operation symbols. Ex: y 3xy 4x + 2

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algorithm A sequence of steps that leads to a desired result. alternate exterior angles Angles formed by two lines and a transversal whose interiors are not between the two lines and are on different sides of the transversal. Angles one and seven are alternate exterior angles as are angles two and eight. When the two lines cut by the transversal are parallel, the alternate exterior angles will be congruent.

alternate interior angles Angles formed by two lines cut by a transversal. They are between the two lines and on alternate sides of the transversal. Angles three and five are alternate interior angles as are angles four and six. When the two lines cut by the transversal are parallel, the alternate interior angles will be congruent.

altitude In a triangle or trapezoid, the segment from a vertex perpendicular to the line containing the opposite side;

also, the length of that segment. In a prism or cylinder, the distance between the bases. In a pyramid or cone, the length of a segment from the vertex perpendicular to the plane of the base. Also called height. altitude of a triangle The perpendicular distance from any vertex of a triangle to the side opposite that vertex. Also called height.

analytic geometry A geometry in which points are represented by coordinates and where algebraic methods of reasoning are utilized.

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angle The union of two rays with the same endpoint.

The rays are the sides and the common endpoint is called the vertex. There are many types of angles. See the definitions for zero angle, right angle, straight angle, acute angle, obtuse angle, reflex angle. angle bisector The ray with points in the interior of an angle that forms two angles of equal measure with the sides of the angle. angle of depression An angle measured from the horizontal plane downward from an observer's eye to a given point below the plane. angle of elevation An angle measured from the horizontal plane upward from an observer's eye to a given point above the plane. angle of inclination See angle of elevation. antecedent The "if" clause of a conditional. Also called hypothesis. apothem The perpendicular segment from the center of a regular n-gon to one of its sides.

arc A path from one point (node) of a network to another point (its endpoints or vertices).

A part of a circle connecting two points (its endpoints) on the circle.

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area Measure of the space inside a two-dimensional figure. Area is measured in square units. Area Model for Multiplication The area of a rectangle with length l and width w is l times w or a = lw. arthmetic mean The result of adding the n numbers in a data set and dividing the sum by n. Also called the average or mean. Associative Property of Addition For any numbers a, b, and c: ( a + b) + c = a + ( b + c ) = a + b + c. The positions of the numbers do not change, the placement of the grouping symbols changes. Ex: (1+2)+3 = 1+(2+3) 3+3 = 1+5 6=6 Associative Property of Multiplication For any numbers a, b, and c: a( bc ) = ( ab )c = abc. The positions of the numbers do not change, the placement of the grouping symbols changes. Ex: 3(4x5) = (3x4)5 3(20) = 12(5) 60 = 60 automatic drawer Computer software or calculator that enables geometric figures to be constructed from input by the user. Click HERE to get one we recommend. auxiliary figure A figure that is added to a given figure, often to aid in completing proofs. average A number representing a set of other numbers determined by taking the sum of those numbers and dividing by the number of them. Also called mean or arithmetic mean. axis A line of reference in a coordinate system. Plural: axes.

axis of a cone The line through the cone's vertex and the center of its base.

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Mathematical "B" Words

bar graph A graph in which information is represented using bars of various lengths to show values of a particular category.

base Given , or x^n, the "x" is the base. The base number gets multiplied by itself the number of times indicated by the exponent, "n". Ex: 2^3 = 2x2x2. base of a triangle The side of a triangle to which an altitude is drawn.

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bases of a trapezoid The parallel sides of a trapezoid.

base angles of an isosceles triangle Two angles of an isosceles triangle whose vertices are the endpoints of the base of the triangle. The base angles on an isosceles triangle are congruent.

base angles of a trapezoid Two angles whose vertices are the endpoints of a base of the trapezoid. The base angles on an isosceles trapezoid are congruent. In this example, angles A and B are congruent base angles as are angles D and C.

base of an isosceles triangle The side opposite the vertex angle.

betweenness of numbers A number is between two others if it is greater than one of them and less than the other. betweenness of points A point is between two other points on the same line if its coordinate is between their coordinates. -8-

biconditional statement A statement that includes a conditional and its converse. It may be written in the form p=>q and q=>p, or p<=>q, or "p if and only if q." Ex: It is raining if and only if drops of water are falling from the sky. This statement is a biconditional because it is true when read front to back and also when it is read back to front, its converse; Drops of water are falling from the sky if and only if it is raining. A good definition consists of a true conditional and its converse, which also must be true. So biconditional statements are important to find. bilateral symmetry A space figure has bilateral symmetry if and only if there is a plane over which the reflection image of the figure is the figure itself. billion A word name for 1,000,000,000 or billionth A word for 0.000000001 or x^-9. binomial An algebraic expression with exactly two terms. Ex: x+2 x^2 - 4 3x^2y + 7x bisector A point, line, ray, or plane which divides a segment, angle,or figure into two parts of equal measure. bisector of an angle The ray in the interior of an angle that divides the angle into two angles of equal measures. .

bisector of a segment A line, ray, or segment which intersects a segment at its midpoint but does not contain the segment.

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box A a right prism whose faces are rectangles.

brackets [ ] Grouping symbols which serve the same role as parentheses

Mathematical "C" Words

capacity The number of unit cubes or parts of unit cubes that can be fit into a solid. Also called volume. cartesian plane Name given to the plane containing points identified as ordered pairs of real numbers. Also called coordinate plane.

center of a circle The given point from which the set of points of the circle are all at the same distance.

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Every point on this circle is the same distance away from the center point,"C".

center of a regular polygon The point equidistant from the vertices.

center of a sphere The given point from which the set of points of the sphere are all the same distance. Every point on this sphere is the same distance away from its center point, "C".

center of symmetry For a rotation-symmetric figure, the center of a rotation that maps the figure onto itself. centi- A prefix meaning 1/100. centimeter 1/100 of a meter. central angle of a circle An angle with its vertex at the center of the circle. Angle A is a central angle of this circle because its vertex is the center point "A".

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centroid of a triangle The point at which all medians of a triangle intersect. The median is a segment that connects a vertex with the midpoint of the opposite side. When you draw all these medians, they will intersect at the centroid. The centroid is also the center of gravity. So any triangle will balance perfectly on the tip of a pin at its centroid point. Give it a try. It's really cool. certain event An event with a probability of 1. chord A segment whose endpoints are on a given circle.

circle The set of points in a plane that are equidistant from a given point known as its center. NOTE: It's important to remember that a circle is only the points on the border. Any point on the inside of this border is in the interior of the circle and is part of what we call the circular region.

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circle graph A graph in which information is represented using a circle that is cut into sectors to show values of a particular category. Also called a pie graph.

circularity The "circling back" that sometimes occurs when one tries to define basic terms; returning to the word which one is trying to define. circumference The perimeter of a circle, which is found by multiplying its diameter times pi.

circumscribed circle A circle that is drawn around the outside of a triangle and contains all the vertices of the triangle. A circle is circumscribed about a polygon if each vertex of the polygon lies on the circle.

clockwise The direction around a circle in which the hands on a clock usually move.

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clockwise orientation The orientation "walking" around a figure keeping its interior to the right. clockwise rotation The direction in which the hands move on a nondigital clock, designated by a negative magnitude. coefficient The number by which a certain variable in a term is multiplied. Ex: 3xy (the 3 is the coefficient) coincide To occupy the same position. coincident lines Lines that contain exactly the same points. We like to think that they lie on top of each other. collinear points Points that lie on the same line. column A vertical line of objects in a rectangular array.

common denominator A multiple of all the denominators in a problem. Ex: Given 1/2, 1/3, 1/4 one common denominator would be 12, because 2, 3, & 4 all divide into 12 evenly. 24, 36, 48 etc. would also be common denominators but 12 is used most often because it is the smallest, or "least common denominator", and thus is easier to work with. common tangent A line which is tangent to two or more distinct circles. Commutative Property of Addition For any numbers a and b: a+ b = b + a. Notice the positions of the numbers switch, but the quantities are still equal.

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Ex: 3 +4 = 4 + 3 7=7 Commutative Property of Multiplication For any numbers a and b: ab = ba. Notice the positions of the numbers switch, but the quantities are still equal. Ex: 5x6=6x5 30 = 30 Comparison Model for Subtraction x - y is how much more x is than y. compass An instrument for drawing circles. complementary angles Two angles the sum of whose measures is 90. composite number Any positive integer exactly divisible by one or more positive integers other than itself and 1. Ex: 6 is a composite number because 2 & 3 divide it evenly as well as do 6 & 1. concentric circles Two or more circles that lie in the same plane and have the same center.

conclusion The "then" clause of a condition. The result of a deduction in a proof. Also called consequent. concurrent Two or more lines that have a point in common. conditional A statement of the form If... Then.... Ex: If a quadrilateral has four equal sides then it is a rhombus. cone The surface of a conic solid whose base is a circle. - 15 -

congruence transformation A transformation that is a reflection or composite of reflections; also called an isometry. congruent figures Figures with the same size and shape. Figures which are the image of each other under a reflection, rotation, or translation, or combination of these. conic solid The set of points between a given region (its base), together with the vertex and the base. conic surface The boundary of a conic solid.

conjecture An educated guess or opinion. consecutive angles In a polygon, two angles whose vertices are endpoints of the same side.

consecutive sides In a polygon, two sides with an endpoint in common. consecutive vertices In a polygon, endpoints of a side. consequent The "then" clause of a conditional, also called the conclusion. construction A drawing which is made using only an unmarked straightedge and a compass following certain prescribed rules. continuous A figure made up of points with no space between them. contraction A size change with a magnitude between 0 and 1. contradiction A situation in which there exist contradictory statement(s).

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contradictory statements Two statements that cannot both be true at the same time. contrapositive A conditional resulting from negating and switching the antecedent and consequent of the original conditional. convenient location A general location for a figure on a coordinate plane in which its key points are described with the fewest possible variables. converse The conditional statement formed by switching the antecedent and consequent of a given conditional. conversion factor A factor by which one unit can be converted to another.

convex polygon A polygon in which no diagonals lie outside the polygon.

convex set A set in which every segment that connects points of the set lie entirely in the set. coordinate The number or numbers associated with the location of a point on a line, a plane, or in space. coordinate axes A pair of perpendicular coordinatized lines in a plane that intersect at the point with coordinate 0; three mutually perpendicular coordinatized lines in space that are concurrent at the point with coordinate 0.

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coordinate graph Displaying points as ordered pairs of numbers. coordinate plane Name given to the plane containing points identified as ordered pairs of real numbers. Also called cartesian plane.

coordinatized line A line on which every point is identified with exactly one number and every number is identified with a point on the line. coplanar Figures that lie in the same plane. corollary A theorem that is easily proven from another theorem. corresponding angles Any pair of angles in similar locations in relation to a transversal intersecting two lines. In this example we see four sets of corresponding angles. 1&5, 2&6, 3&7, 4&8 If the lines cut by the transversal are parallel, all correspondig angles will be congruent.

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corresponding parts Angles or sides that are images of each other under a transformation. corresponding sides Any pair of sides in the same relative positions in two similar figures. Ex: The segment stretching from A to B correspondS to the segment stretching from D to E.

cosine of an angle The ratio leg adjacent to the angle divided by the hypotenuse in a right triangle. Abbreviated cos.

count A number of particular things. counterclockwise The direction around a circle opposite from that in which the hands of a clock move.

counterclockwise orientation The orientation "walking" around a figure keeping its interior to the left. counterclockwise rotation The direction opposite that which the hands move on a nondigital clock, designated by a positive magnitude.

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counterexample A specific case of a conditional for which the antecedent is true but the consequent is false. An example which shows a conjecture to be false. counting unit The name of the particular things being tallied in a count. Ex: I have 5 dollars. ( The count is 5, and the counting unit is dollars.) cube A three-dimensional figure with six faces, each face being a square cube root A real number x is the cube root of a real number y, written , if and only if x cubed= y. ex: cubic units Units for measuring volume. cylinder The surface of a cylindric solid whose base is a circle.

cylindric solid The set of points between a region (its base) and its translation image in space, including the region and its image.

Mathematical "D" Words

decagon A ten-sided polygon. decimal notation The notation in which numbers are written using ten digits and each place stands for a power of ten.

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Ex: 34 means 3 tens and 4 ones. decimal system The system in which numbers are written in decimal notation. deduction The process of making justified conclusions. definition A description that clearly and uniquely specifies an object or a class of objects. degree A unit of measurements equal to 1/360 of a complete circle. degree measure of a major arc ACB of circle O 360 - the measure of arc AB.

degree measure of minor arc AB of circle O The measure of the central angle AOB. denominator The divisor, or bottom number, in a fraction. b in the fraction a/b. Remember that a fraction is a division problem. The top number, the numerator, is the number being divided, the fraction bar is the division symbol, and the bottom number, the denominator, is the number of equal parts that you are dividing the top into. EX: Say you have $24/8. Twenty four dollars divided into 8 equal parts means there will be $3 in each part. EX: If the fraction has a numerator smaller than its denominator you might get a problem like this: $3/4. Three dollars divided into 4 equal parts. Each of these parts will have less than one dollar in it, in this case $.75. *If the numerator is greater than the denominator, the fraction is > 1. **If the numerator is less than the denominator, the fraction is < 1. dense The property that between two elements of the set there is at least one other element of the set.

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The set of Real Numbers is dense because between any two numbers you can always find another number, just enlarge the view.

diagonal of a polygon A segment that connects two vertices of the polygon but is not a side of a polygon. NOTE: A triangle has no diagonals.

diameter of a circle or sphere A segment connecting two points on the circle or sphere and containing the center of the circle or sphere, also the length of that segment.

difference The answer to a subtraction problem. digit One of the ten symbols, 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9, used to write numbers from zero to nine. dihedral angle The angle formed by the union of two half-planes with the same edge.

dimensions The lengths of the sides of a rectangle. The number of rows and the number of columns in a rectangular array. dimensions of a box The lengths of three edges of the box which meet at the same vertex. Usually referred to as length, width, and height. - 22 -

dimensions of a rectangle The lengths of two sides of the rectangle which meet at a single vertex. Usually referred to as length and width. direction of translation The direction given by the vector from any preimage point to its image point in a translation.

directly congruent Figures which are congruent and have the same orientation. discrete figure A figure made up of points with space between them. discrete geometry The study of points as dots separate from each other, and lines made up of these points. display The area on a calculator where numbers appear. distance between two parallel lines The length of a segment that is perpendicular to the lines with an endpoint on each of the lines.

distance between two parallel planes The length of a segment perpendicular to the planes with an endpoint in each plane.

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distance between two points The absolute value of the difference of their coordinates on a coordinatized line.

distance from a point to a line The length of the perpendicular segment connecting the point to the line.

distance from a point to a plane The length of the perpendicular segment from the point to the plane.

Distributive Property of Multiplication over Addition For any numbers a, b, and x : ax + bx = ( a + b )x and x( a + b) = xa + xb. Also called distributivity.

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Distributive Property of Multiplication over Subtraction For any numbers a, b, and x : ax + bx = ( a - b )x and ( a - b ) = ax - bx. Also called distributivity.

dividend The number in a quotient which is being divided; a is the dividend in a/b.

divisor The number by which you divide in a quotient; b is the divisor in a/b. Also a number that exactly divides into another number, referred to as a factor.

dodecagon A polygon with twelve sides. dodecahedron A polyhedron with twelve faces.

Mathematical "E" Words

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edge Any side of a polyhedron's faces.

elevations Two-dimensional views of three-dimensional figures given from the top, front, or sides. Elevations usually include measurements and a scale. empty set A set containing no elements. Also know as the null set. Symbols used to denote this set are, . endpoint A point at the end of a segment or the starting point of a ray.

endpoint of a ray The starting point of a ray. ends of a kite The common vertices of the equal sides of the kite.

Equal Fractions Property If the numerator and denominator of a fraction are both multiplied ( or divided ) by the same nonzero number, then the resulting fractions are equal.

This example works because 3/3 is another name for one, and any number when multiplied by one retains its original value. equally likely outcomes Outcomes in a situation where each outcome is assumed to occur as often as every other outcome.

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equation A sentence with an equal sign. Ex: 3x + 7 = 19 equation of the form x + a = b An equation in which an unknown number x is added to a known number a, resulting in a known number b. Ex: x + 8 =16 equation of the form ax = b An equation in which the unknown number x is multiplied by a known number a, resulting in a known number b. Ex: 4x = 64 equation of the form ax + b = c An equation in which an unknown number x is multiplied by a known number a, then added to a known number b, resulting in a known number c. Ex: 2x + 7 = 27 equation of the form ax + b = cx + d An equation in which the same unknown number x is multiplied by numbers a and c and added to known numbers b and d, resulting in equal values. Ex: 5x + 8 = 3x + -10 equiangular polygon A polygon with all angles of equal measure. equidistant At the same distance. equilateral polygon A polygon with all sides of equal length. equilateral triangle A triangle in which all the sides have the same length. equivalent formulas Formulas in which the same numbers work. equivalent sentences Sentences that have exactly the same solutions. estimate A number which is near another number. Also called approximation. Estimation Principle If two numbers are nearly equal, then when one is substituted for the other in a computation will be nearly equal. Euclid A Greek mathematician, who lived about 300 B.C., famous for his Elements, a collection of theorems and problems that forms a logical system of geometry. Euclid also wrote on conic sections, optics, algebra and numbers. He

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proved that the number of primes is infinite. He founded the first school of mathematics at Alexandria. For more than 2,000 years, Euclidean geometry was the only kind taught in schools. Euclidean geometry The geometry based on Euclid's axioms. evaluating an expression Finding the value of an algebraic expression by substituting a value for the variable(s) and then applying the order of operations, PEMDAS (parentheses, exponents, multiplication and division from left to right, and addition and subtraction from left to right).

evaluating a numerical expression Working out the arithmetic in a numerical expression. The order of operations, PEMDAS (parentheses, exponents, multiplication and division from left to right, and addition and subtraction from left to right), must be followed when evaluating any numerical expression even node A node which is the endpoint of an even number of arcs in a network.

event A collection of possible outcomes of an experiment. exercise A question which you know how to answer. expansion A size change with magnitude greater than one. exponent In the power x^n, n is the exponent. extended ratio A sequence of three or more numbers representing the relative sizes of the numbers (or quantities).

Ex: This 30, 60, 90 degree triangle has angles which follow a 1:2:3 ratio because 60 is two times bigger than 30, and 90 is three times bigger than 30.

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exterior angle An angle formed by two lines and a transversal whose interior contains no points between the two lines. An angle which forms a linear pair with an angle of a given polygon.

Above you see angles 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6 are all exterior angles. NOTE: If the two lines that are cut by the transversal are parallel, then the alternate exterior angles, 1&4, 2&3, will be congruent exterior of a circle The set of points at a distance greater than the radius from the center of the circle. It's just everything not in or on the circle itself.

exterior of a figure When a figure separates the plane into two parts, one bounded and one not, the unbounded part. exterior of an angle A nonzero angle separates the plane into two sets of points. If the angle is not straight, the non-convex set is the exterior of the angle.

extremes of a proportion In the proportion a/b= c/d, the numbers a and d.

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Remember that b and c are called the means, and that the product of the means is always equal to the product of the extremes in any proportion.

Mathematical "F" Words

face of polyhedron Any of the polygonal regions that form the surface of a polyhedron.

factor A number that divides another number exactly. Also called divisor. figure A set of points. finite decimal A decimal that ends. Also called terminating decimals. flip A transformation in which each point is mapped onto its reflection image over a line or plane. flow chart A diagram that shows a step-by-step progression through a procedure or system.

foot (ft) A unit of length in the U.S. system of measurement equal to 12 inches. Also 1 foot = 30.48 cm, 3 feet = 1 yard, 5,280 feet = 1 mile. - 30 -

formula A sentence in which one variable is written in terms of other variables. Ex: a = lw 45-45-90 triangle An isosceles right triangle whose angles measure 45, 45, 90. The Pythagorean Theorem guarantees that if the sides are each x units long, then the hypotenuse will be the square root of two times x units long.

fraction A number written in the form a/b, where b is non zero. fraction bar A grouping symbol separating the numerator and denominator of a fraction and standing for division.

fundamental region A region which is used to tessellate a plane.

Mathematical "G" Words

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gallon (gal) A unit of capacity in the U.S. system of measurement equal to 4 quarts. generalization A statement that is true about many instances. glide reflection The composite of a reflection and a translation parallel to the reflecting line, also known as a walk. gores Tapered sections of a net for a spherical object.

grade The slope of a road, often represented as a percent or ratio. gram A unit of mass in the metric system. A gram weighs about as much as a medium sized paperclip. graph A picture of numbers on a number line or coordinate system. See also network. graph theory The geometry of networks. great circle of sphere The intersection of a sphere and a plane that contains the center of the sphere. The equator is a great circle on the Earth. A great circle seperates the sphere into two hemispheres.

grouping symbols Symbols such as parentheses ( ), brackets [ ], braces { }, and fraction bars /, that group numbers and, or variables together.

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Mathematical "H" Words

half turn A turn of 180 . height In a triangle or trapezoid, the segment from a vertex perpendicular to the line containing the opposite side; also, the length of that segment. In a prism or cylinder, the distance between the bases. In a pyramid or cone, the length of a segment from the vertex perpendicular to the plane of the base. Also called altitude. height of a trapezoid The perpendicular distance between the bases of a trapezoid.

height of a triangle The perpendicular distance from any vertex of a triangle to the side opposite that vertex. Also called altitude.

hemisphere The half of a sphere on one side of a great circle.

*Remember that a great circle is the intersection of a sphere and a plane that contains the center of the sphere. heptagon A seven-sided polygon. - 33 -

hexagon A six-sided polygon. hexahedron A polyhedron with six faces.

hidden lines Lines in a picture or a three-dimensional figure that cannot be seen, but which are marked as dashed or shaded lines so as to show existence or give a feeling of depth. hierarchy A diagram that shows how various figures or ideas are related, often with a down ward direction that moves from more general to more specific. Below you will see the seven types of quadrilaterals arranged in a hierarchy. A hierarchy is similar to a flowchart.

horizontal component of a vector The first component in the ordered pair description of a vector, indicating its magnitude along the x-axis of the coordinate plane. When a figure is translated on the coordinate plane by a vector (a,b), the image of the point (x,y) is (x+a,y+b). In other words, you add "a" to the first coordinates and "b" to the second coordinates. horizontal line A line with an equation y = k on the coordinate plane. No matter what value "x" may assume, the "y" value for every point on this line is locked at the value "k".

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hyberbola The conic section formed by a plane which intersects both of the right conical surfaces.

hypotenuse The longest side of a right triangle; the side opposite the right triangle.

hypothesis The "if" clause of a conditional, also called the antecedent. An assumption used as the basis for an investigation or argument. Ex: If "x" is a positive number, then "x" is not equal to zero. (*The green part is the hypothesis)

Mathematical "I" Words

icosahedron A polyhedron with twenty faces. identity transformation A transformation that maps each point onto itself. if and only if statement A statement consisting of a conditional and its converse. Also called biconditional.

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EX: A quadrilateral is a square if and only if it is a rhombus and a rectangle. NOTE: The if and only if part , sometimes abbreviated as iff, guarantees that the statement can be read as an "if then" statement from front to back and from back to front, known as the converse. This is how the above example would read in both directions: Front to back: If a quadrilateral is a square, then it is a rhombus and a rectangle. Back to front: If a quadrilateral is a rhombus and a rectangle, then it is a square. if-then statement A statement of the form If... Then.... Ex: If a quadrilateral has four equal sides then it is a rhombus. image The result of applying a transformation to an original figure or preimage. Transformations can be reflections, as seen in the example below, rotations, translations or "slides", and glide reflections.

image point A point resulting from applying a transformation. In the example above, C', read "C prime", is the image point of preimage point C. impossible event An event with a probability of 0 . inch ( in) The base unit of length for the US system of measurement. 1 in is exactly equal to 2.54 centimeters.

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included angle The angle formed by two consecutive sides of a polygon.

included side The side between two consecutive angles of a polygon. indirect reasoning (proofs) Reasoning (proofs) using the Law of the Contrapositive, the Law of Ruling Out Possibilities, or the Law of Indirect Reasoning. inequality A sentence with one of the following symbols: <(less than), >(greater than), <(less than or equal to), >(greater than or equal to). infinite decimal A decimal that goes on forever to the right of the decimal point. Some of these decimals repeat and some do not. The ones which do not are called irrational numbers examples of which are pi and the square root of two. infinite repeating decimal A decimal in which a digit or group of digits to the right of the decimal point repeats forever.

initial point The beginning point of a vector. inscribed angle in a circle An angle whose vertex is on the circle and whose sides each intersect the circle at a point other than the vertex.

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Angle PTM is an inscribed angle with its vertex point T on the circle C. Notice both sides cross the circle at points other than T.

inscribed circle In a polygon, a circle which is tangent to, or touches, each side of the polygon.

Here we see a circle that fits perfectly inside of a polygon. The circle ever so lightly touches each side of the polygon, but does not go past its edges.

inscribed polygon In a circle, a polygon whose vertices all lie on the circle.

Notice the difference here. In this case, the polygon is inside the circle with each of its vertices on the circle.

instance An example of a pattern. EX: 3x+7 is the pattern and 3(1)+7 = 10 is an instance of that pattern. instance of a conditional A specific case in which the antecedent (if part) of the conditional is true and its consequent (then part) is also true. EX: If x is not equal to zero, then x squared is a positive number. An instance here would be let x=(-14), then (-14) squared is equal to 196 which is a positive number.

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integer A number which is a positive whole number, a negative whole number, or zero.

intercepted arc An arc of the circle in the interior of an angle.

interior angles When two lines are cut by a transversal, the angles that are formed on the inside of the two lines are known as interior angles.

In this picture, angles 3, 4, 5, and 6 are all interior angles. Angles 1, 2, 7, and 8 are called exterior angles.

interior of a circle The set of points at a distance less than the radius from the center of the circle. It's all of the points on the inside of the circle. interior of an angle A nonzero angle separates the plane into two sets of points. If the angle is not straight, the convex set is the interior of the angle.

international system of measurement A system of measurements based on the decimal system. Also called metric system.

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intersecting planes Two planes that contain the same line. EX:

intersection of two sets The set of elements which are in both the sets. EX: Given set A={1, 2, 3, 4} and set B={3, 4, 5, 6}, the intersection of sets A and B, written = {3, 4}.

interval on a scale The constant difference between successive tick marks on the scale of a graph. inverse A conditional resulting from negating the antecedent and consequent of the original conditional. EX: Original conditional: If a quadrilateral is a square, then it is a rectangle. Inverse: If a quadrilateral is not a square, then it is not a rectangle. NOTE: Sometimes the original conditional will be true, but its inverse will be false. Be careful with these. irrational number A number that cannot be written as a simple fraction. It is an infinite and nonrepeating decimal. Examples are "pi" and the square root of two. isometry A transformation that is a reflection or a composite of reflections. Also called congruence transformation or distance-preserving transformation. Reflections, rotations, translations or slides, and glide reflections are all isometries. isosceles trapezoid A trapezoid with a pair of non parallel sides the same measure. In an isosceles trapezoid, the base angles will be congruent.

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isosceles triangle A triangle with two sides equal in length.

Mathematical "J" Words

justification A definition, postulate, or theorem which enables a conclusion to be drawn. Ex: In the proof below, the justifications are in red.

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Mathematical "K" Words

key in To press keys or enter information into a calculator. key sequence A set of instructions for what to key in on a calculator. When writing out a key sequence, operations and symbols like parentheses are typically drawn in rectangles indicating what hey to press. EX: One key sequence for the expression would be

*Remember each calculator company uses their own special keys to perform operations. Be sure to learn how your calculator works before you throw away the owner's manual. kilo A prefix meaning 1000. kite A quadrilateral with two pairs of adjacent congruent sides.

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Mathematical "L" Words

lattice point A point in the coordinate plane or in space with integer coordinates. legs of a right triangle Either side of a right triangle that is on the right angle.

Segments right triangle.

are the legs of this

leg adjacent to an angle The side of the right triangle which is on the acute angle and is not the hypotenuse.

NOTE: the hypotenuse

is NOT a leg. is the leg

is the leg adjacent to angle A. opposite angle A.

leg opposite an angle The side of the right triangle which is not on the acute angle. (see above illustration) like terms Terms that involve the same variables raised to the same powers. EX: 3x, 4x, and -16.8x are like terms as are .

linear equation An equation in which the graph of the solutions is a line. An equation equivalent to ax + b = y. EX: 3x + 4 = 22 A linear equation will have no variables with exponents higher than one.

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linear pair Angles that have a common side, and whose noncommon sides are opposite rays.

line segment The points A and B along with the points on segment between A and B. Also called segments.

line symmetry A figure is said to posses line symmetry if it can be reflected onto of itself over a given line.

length The distance between two points measured along the segment or an arc joining them. A dimension of a rectangle or rectangular solid. NOTE: In Geometry when you are discussing the length of a given segment symbolically, you simply write the named of the segment's endpoints without the segment bar on top. EX: AC=14 in, is read, "The length of segment AC is fourteen inches." limit The value to which the terms of an infinite sequence get closer and closer as one goes further and further out in the sequence. line An undefined geometric term. See Point-Line-Plane Postulate. line of reflection The line over which a preimage is reflected. Also called reflecting line or mirror.

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line perpendicular to a plane A line perpendicular to every line in the plane which passes through the point of intersection.

liter A volume or capacity in the metric system equal to 1000 cubic centimeters. 1Liter 1.06 quarts. lowest terms A fraction written with the smallest possible whole numbers.

Twenty-four divides both numerator and denominator evenly, so the lowest term fraction results after that division

Mathematical "M" Words

magnitude of rotation In a rotation, the amount that the preimage is turned about the center of rotation, measured in degrees from -180 (clockwise) to 180 (counterclockwise), +/- m<POP', where P' is the image of P under the rotation and O is its center. Rotations, which are sometimes called turns, can also have magnitudes outside the range of -180 to 180 degrees, such as 720 degrees or -500 degrees. The thing you want to remember is that you are going around in a circle, and every circle has only 360 degrees. So a rotation of -500 degrees is really just one complete, clockwise, revolution of -360 and -140 degrees more. magnitude of size transformation In a size change, the factor by which the length of the preimage is changed, A'B'/AB , where A' and B' are the images of A - 45 -

and B under the transformation. Also called a size change factor or scale factor of size transformation. The magnitude of this size transformation is two, because AB=5 units and A'B'=10. The lengths on the image A'B'C' are all two times larger than on the preimage ABC. magnitude of translation The distance between any point and its image. major arc AB of circle O The points of circle O that are on or in the exterior of angle AOB.

NOTE: Three letters are used to identify major arcs.

mapping An operation on a geometric figure by which each point gives rise to a unique image. A correspondence between two sets of points such that each point in the preimage set has a unique image, and each point in the image set has exactly one preimage. Also called a transformation. matrix A rectangular array of rows and columns.

mean A number that describes a set of other numbers. You get a mean, or average, as it is commonly called, by taking the sum of the numbers being examined and then dividing that sum by how many numbers were added.

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For example: To find the mean, or average, of 10, 9, 8, and 5 this is what you would do:

means

In the proportion a/b = c/d, the numbers b and c. Proportions used to always be written with colons on a straight line as you see at the top of our example. The word "means" meant "middle", thus the two numbers in the middle were called the means. It made perfect sense to those historical folks, but people today often wonder why b and c are called the means because today we usually write proportions as equal fractions with a horizontal fraction bar. *NOTE: a and d are called the extremes. This is because "extremes" meant "outside" and the a and d are on the outer sides of the horizontally written proportion.

means-extremes property In any proportion, the product of the means equals the product of the extremes. Some people learn this as "cross products are equal in any proportion."

measure The dimension or amount of something, usually in a system of units. medial triangle The union of segments that join the midpoints of the sides of a triangle.

median of a triangle The segment connecting a vertex of the triangle to the midpoint of the opposite side.

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Here we see all of the medians of triangle CEN. The spot where they intersect, pt R, is called the center of gravity, and is a perfect balance point for the triangle. You can prove this by cutting out the triangle and balancing it on the tip of a pin directly at point R. menu A list of options from which a user of a computer can select an operation for the computer to perform. Mercator projection A two- dimensional map of the Earth's surface named for Gerhardus Mercator, the Flemish cartographer who first created it in 1569. meter The basic unit of length in the metric system. 1 meter 1.09 yards 39.4 inches. metric system of measurement A system of measurement based on the decimal system. Also called the international system of measurement. midpoint of a segment The point on the segment equidistant from the segment's endpoints.

mile ( mi ) A unit of length in the US system of measurement equal to 5,280 feet. 1 mile 1.609 km. milli A prefix meaning 1/1000. million A word name for 1,000,000. millionth A word name for 0.000001 or 10-6.

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minor arc AB of circle O The points of circle O that are on or in the interior of angle AOB.

minuend The number a in a - b. mirror A line over which a figure is reflected. Also called reflecting line. mixed numeral A symbol consisting of a whole number with a fraction next to it, when written like this it means the numbers are being added.

mixed number A number written as a mixed numeral. Multiplication of Fractions Property for all numbers a, b, c, and f with b and f not equal to 0: Just multiply the numerators and then multiply the denominators. Multiplication Property of Equation For all real nos. x, y and a, If x = y, then ax = ay. Multiplication Property of -1 For any real number x: -1 times x = -x. Multiplication Property of Zero For any real number x: x times 0 = 0. Multiplicative Identity Property of One For any number n: n times 1 = n. *We like to say that multiplying a number by one causes it to retain its identity. multiplicative inverse The number by which a given number can be multiplied resulting in a product equal to 1. Also called reciprocal.

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Mult-Rec Property of Division For any numbers a, and b, with b not equal to 0: a/b = a times 1/b. In words, to divide by a number is the same as multiplying by its reciprocal. Ex: To divide by 2 gives the same answer as multiplying by 1/2. 24 divided by 2 = 12 and 24 times 1/2 = 12.

Mathematical "N" Words

natural number Any one of the numbers 1, 2, 3, ... . Also called positive integer. These are sometimes called "counting numbers". n-fold rotation symmetry A figure has n-fold rotation symmetry, where n is a positive integer, when a rotation of magnitude 360/n maps the figure onto itself, and no larger value of n has this property.

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*n also represents the number of times the figure would need to be rotated onto intself in order to land directly in its original position. In the triangle example at left, the 3 fold rotation means that 3 rotations of 120 degrees will land point G on top of itself.

n-gon A polygon with n sides. negation of a statement A statement (called not p, and represented by ~p) that is true whenever statement p is false and is false whenever statement p is true. EX: let p = "It is raining today." The negation of p would be, "It is not raining today." negative integer Any one of the numbers -1, -2, -3, ... .

negative number A number which is the opposite of a positive number.

EX: nested parentheses Parentheses which are inside other parentheses. Nested parentheses indicate which operations are to be performed first. You always work inside the INNERMOST parentheses first. EX: (3(4+8)) means add the four and the eight first, then multiply by 3. The simplified answer is 36. net A two-dimensional figure that can be folded on its segments or curved on its boundaries into a three-dimensional surface.

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network A union of points (its vertices or nodes) and segments (its arcs) connecting them. Also called graph.

node An endpoint of an arc in a network. nonagon A nine-sided polygon. nonconvex set A set in which at least one segment that connects points within the set has points that lie outside of the set.

Here we see the segment that connects pts. A and C contains points which fall outside of the quadrilateral.

non-Eclidean geometry A geometry in which the postulates are not the same as those in Euclidean geometry. nonoverlapping regions Regions that do not share interior points. null set The set with no elements. Also called empty set. Either of the following symbols can be used to represent the null set.

number line A line in which the points, in order, correspond to numbers in order. numerator a in the fraction a/b. Remember that a fraction is a division problem. The top number, the numerator, is the number being divided, the fraction bar is the division symbol, and the bottom number, the denominator, is the number of equal parts that you are dividing the top into. EX: Say you have $24/8. Twenty four dollars divided into 8 equal parts means there will be $3 in each part. EX: If the fraction has a numerator smaller than its denominator you might get a problem like this: $3/4. Three dollars divided into 4 equal parts. Well each of these parts will have less than one dollar in it, in this case $.75. *If the numerator is greater than the denominator, the fraction is > 1. **If the numerator is less than the denominator, the fraction is < 1.

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numerical expression A collection of numbers and operation symbols, without an equal sign, that represents a number. EX: 3+6(10-5) is a numerical expression that represents the number 33, because the order of operations requires us to first take (10-5), and get 5, then multiply that by 6 and get 30, and finally add 3 for a total of 33.

Mathematical "O" Words

oblique cone A cone whose axis is not perpendicular to its base.

oblique figure A 3-dimensional figure in which the plane of the base(s) is not perpendicular to its axis or to the planes of its lateral surfaces.

oblique line A line that is neither horizontal nor vertical. obtuse angle An angle whose measure is between 90 and 180 Remember a . 90 angle is called a right angle not an obtuse angle, and a 180 angle is called a straight angle not an obtuse angle.

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obtuse triangle A triangle with an obtuse angle.

octagon An eight-sided polygon. octahedron A polyhedron with eight faces. odd node A node which is the endpoint of an odd number of arcs in a network.

one-dimensional A space in which all points are collinear. Basically a single line. one-step proof A justified conclusion of a conditional requiring a single definition, theorem, or postulate. open sentence A sentence with variables that can be true or false, depending on what is substituted for the variables. EX: x + 4 =16 is only true for x=12. Op-op Property For all real numbers n: -(-n) = n. opposite When a given number is added to its opposite you always get ZERO. The opposite of a number n is denoted -n. Also called additive inverse. EX: 6 is the opposite of -6 because when you add them 6+-6=0. opposite faces A pair of faces of a polyhedron whose planes are parallel to each other.

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oppositely congruent Figures which are congruent and have opposite orientation.

opposite rays Ray AB and Ray AC are opposite rays if and only if A is between B and C.

ordered pair A pair of numbers ( x, y ) in which x is the first coordinate and y is the second coordinate.

ordered pair description of a vector The description of a vector as the ordered pair (a,b) where a is the horizontal component and b is the vertical component.

order of operations Rules for evaluating an expression: work first within parentheses, then calculate all exponents, then do multiplication and division together as they appear in the problem from left to right; then do addition and subtraction as they appear from left to right. NOTE: Many math teachers teach the saying, "Please Excuse My Dear Aunt Sally" or PEMDAS. Each capital letter stands for an operation. P~parentheses or all grouping symbols E~exponents M&D~ multiplication and division from left to right A&S~ addition and subtraction from left to right

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orientation The order of the designation of the vertices of a polygon, either clockwise or counterclockwise.

EX: figure ABCDEFG above has a clockwise orientation. origin The point where the x and y axes intersect denoted by ( 0, 0 ). ounce (oz) A unit of weight in the U.S. system of measurement equal to 1/16 of a pound. 1 ounce 29.574 milliliters. overlapping figures Figures which have some interior points in common.

overlapping triangles Triangles that have interior points in common

Mathematical "P" Words

palindrome A number or word that reads the same way from right to left as it does left to right. EX:

BOB 121 A MAN A PLAN A CANAL PANAMA ABLE WAS I ERE I SAW ELBA

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parabola The conic section formed by a plane parallel to an edge of the conical surface.

paragraph proof A form of written proof in which conclusions and justifications are combined in sentences and put into paragraph form. parallel lines Two lines in a plane are parallel if they have no points in common or are identical.

NOTE: two common symbols used to indicate parallel lines are the extra arrowheads placed on the lines as you see in the example above and also the || symbol. parallelogram A quadrilateral with two pairs of parallel sides.

Parallel planes Planes which have no points in common or are identical.

parentheses ( ) Grouping symbols which indicate the order of operations that should be followed in evaluating an expression; the work inside them should be done first.

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pattern A general form for which there are many examples. pentagon A five-sided polygon.

percent % means times 1/100 or .01, one one-hundredth. Ex: 7% = 7 times (1/100) = 7/100 or 0.07. NOTE: Many people are not aware of how the idea of percents got started. If you know this bit of math history, it may help you remember how to use percent properly. Back in the Middle Ages most people were uneducated and illiterate. The only people who could read, write and do math were the priests. In an attempt to keep people ignorant of money matters, the priests told the people that numbers were evil. If they were to speak a number or try to write it, the devil would enter their souls. Now this sounds crazy to us, but the common, uneducated, serfs of the day believed it strongly. In fact, they believed it so much that when a peddler would come to town trying to sell goods for a given number of gold pieces, the townspeople would run him out of town, as though he were the devil himself. Well as you can imagine, this made it hard to be a small businessman in the Middle Ages. To conquer this problem, the peddlers got together and decided to fight superstition with superstition. They invented a symbol which would "cast the evil out" of any number. This symbol was the percent symbol. So if you were selling a chicken and you wanted to say, "That will be 85 cents please," you would have to say , "That will be 85 percent." Or you could write % which would also cast out the devil from written numbers. Basically in our number system, the word percent means "penny". So 15% is 15 pennies or 0.15. 200% would be 200 pennies or 2 full dollars. It is amazing how even though percents are not really needed today, they are so embedded in our culture that you see them everywhere money is being exchanged: stores, banks, investments, etc.. perimeter The sum of the lengths of the sides of a polygon.... or the length of the boundary of a closed region. perimeter of a polygon The sum of the lengths of its sides.

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perimeter of a rectangle 2l + 2w where l is the length and w is the width of a rectangle.

perpendicular The name given to rays, segments, or lines that form right angles.

perpendicular bisector method A method for finding the center of a circle that involves drawing perpendicular bisectors of two chords. You can use this method to perform the really cool trick of drawing a circle through any three noncolinear points.

perpendicular bisector of a segment In a plane, the line containing the midpoint of the segment and perpendicular to the segment.

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perpendicular planes Planes whose dihedral angle is a right angle.

perspective drawing A drawing of a figure made to look as it would in the real world. To achieve this illusion receding parallel lines are drawn to converge at a point on the horizon called the vanishing point.

pi Every circle, big or small, has a special relationship between its circumference and its diameter. If you divide the circumference by the diameter you always get the same number! C/D is always approximately 3.1415926535 ... . Pi is an irrational number. That means that it is a decimal that never repeats or terminates. It CAN NOT be written as a fraction exactly. The Greeks who first found this relationship used the Greek letter to stand for the decimal and we are still using it today. pie graph A graph in which information is represented using a circle that has been cut into sectors to show values of a particular category. Also called circle

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graph.

pint A unit of capacity in the U.S system of measurements equal to two cups, or 1/2 a quart, or 16 ounces, or 0.473 liters. pixel A dot on a TV or computer screen or other monitor. place value The numbers that each digit stands for in a decimal. In the illustration below, if you think of the one's place and the decimal point as the center, the names correspond on either side. Remember, the numbers to the right of the decimal point always end in "ths".

plane An undefined geometric term. In Euclidean Geometry, a plane is understood to be a flat surface that extends infinitely in all directions.. plane coordinate geometry The study of points as ordered pairs of numbers. plane figure A set of points that are all in one plane. plane geometry The study of figures which lie in the same plane. plane section The intersection of a three-dimensional figure with a plane.

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point An undefined geometric term. In Euclidean Geometry, a point can be thought of as a dot that represents a location on a plane or in space. These points have no size. point of tangency The point at which a tangent intersects the curve (circle) or curved surface (sphere).

polygon A union of three or more coplanar segments (its sides) such that each segment intersects exactly two others, one at each of its endpoints (its vertices).

polygonal region The union of a polygon and its interior. polyhedron A three-dimensional surface which is the union of polygonal regions (its faces) and which has no holes. Plural: polyhedra.

polynomial A monomial or a sum of any number of monomials. An expression that is the sum or difference of two or more terms. EX: 3x + 4xy - 7 positive integer Any one of the numbers 1, 2, 3, ... . Also called natural numbers. Remember that 0 is neither positive nor is it negative.

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postulate A statement assumed to be true. Also called axiom. pound (lb.) A unit of weight in the U.S. system of measurement equal to 16 ounces. 1 pound 0.4536 kilograms. power The answer to a problem is called the exponent. . In this power, "a" is called the base and "b"

ppm Parts per million. This unit is frequently used in reporting the concentration of pollutants in water and air. It means that in a mixture, there is 1 part by mass of the subject material in 1 million parts of the mixture. Thus in water, 1 PPM corresponds to 1 g of pollutant per million g of water, (or, more accurately, of solution). By shifting the decimal point, you can see that this is equal to 0.001 g per 1000 g, or 1 mg/kg. Because 1 L of water weighs 1 kg, 1 PPM also corresponds to 1 mg/L. preimage The original figure in a transformation. preimage point A point to which a transformation has been applied. preserved property Under a transformation, a property which, if present in a preimage, is present in the image. prime number A positive integer whose only positive integer divisors are itself and one. NOTE: One is not considered prime because it has only one positive integer divisor, itself. Two is the first prime number and it is the only even prime. prism To create a prism, start with a polygon base, then translate this base to a parallel plane, then connect the corresponding vertices of the two bases. probability A number from 0 to 1 which indicates how likely something is to happen. A probability of 0 means the event cannot happen. A probability of 1 means it will definitely happen. A probability of 0.5 means you have a 50% chance of it happening. product The resulting of doing a multiplication. Product of Reciprocals Property For any nonzero number n: n times 1/n = 1. proof A sequence of justified conclusions, leading from what is given or known to a final conclusion. Property of Opposites For any number n: n + -n = 0. Opposites always add to zero. - 63 -

proportion A statement that two fractions (ratios) are equal. NOTE: In a proportion the product of the numbers on the diagonals will be equal. Some folks say the "cross products" are equal and some say the product of the "means" equals the product of the "extremes". proportional numbers Four numbers that form a true proportion. proportional thinking The ability to get or estimate an answer to a proportion without going through the equation-solving process. protractor A instrument used for measuring angles. Click the word to get some disposable protractors. pyramid A polyhedron in which all but one of the polygonal faces intersect at a single point known as the vertex of the pyramid. The side which does not intersect at the vertex is called the "base".

Pythagorean theorem In a right triangle with legs a and b, and hypotenuse.

Pythagorean triple A set of three numbers that can be the lengths of the sides of a right triangle. EX: 3, 4, & 5 make a Pythagorean triple because

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Mathematical "Q" Words

quadrant One of the four parts into which the coordinate plane is divided by the x-axis and y-axis. Quadrants are labeled with Roman Numerals as shown below.

quadrilateral A four-sided polygon. Examples:

quadrillion A word name for 1,000,000,000,000,000 or

quadrillionth A word name for 0.00000 00000 00001 or

quart (qt) A unit of volume in the U.S. system of measurement equal to 2 pints or 4 cups. One quart = 32 ounces. One quart 0.946 liters.

quintillion A word name for 1,000,000,000,000,000,000 or

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quintillionth A word name for 0.00000 00000 00000 001 or quotient The result of dividing one number by another.

Mathematical "R" Words

radius of a circle or sphere A segment connecting the center of a circle or a sphere with a point on that circle or sphere, also, the length of that segment. Plural is radii.

rate A quantity whose unit contains the word " per " or " for each " or some synonym. Ex: miles per hour, beats per minute, candy bars for each child rate factor A rate used in multiplication . Rate Model for Division If a and b are quantities with different units, then a/b is the amount of quantity a per quantity b.

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Rate Factor Model for Multiplication When a rate is multiplied by another quantity, the unit of the product is the ( product ) of units multiplied like fractions. The product has meaning whenever its units have meaning.

Ex: You can see that the following rate multiplication changes 6 days into its equivalent number of seconds: rate unit The unit of measurement in a rate. ratio The quotient of two quantities with the same units. Ratio Comparison Model for Division If a and b are quantities with the same units, then a/b compares a to b. ratio of similitude In similar figures, the ratio of a distance or length in an image to the corresponding distance or length in a preimage. Ex: When comparing the following small right triangle to its similar large right triangle, we see a ratio of similitude of 0.5.

rational number A number that can be written as a simple fraction. These numbers can also be written as terminating or repeating decimals.

Ex: ray A part of a line which begins at some point and goes on forever in a particular direction. The ray with endpoint A containing B is denoted .

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real numbers A number that can be written as a decimal. The set of Real numbers is made up of all rational numbers as well as all irrational numbers. reciprocal A number which, when multiplied by a given number, yields the product 1. Also called multiplicative inverse. An example of this is the numbers 2 and 1/2. When multiplied, they yield 2/2, which equals 1. rectangle A quadrilateral with four right angles.

rectangular array An arrangement of objects into rows and columns.

rectangular solid A box. The union of a box and its interior.

reflecting line The line over which a preimage is reflected. Also called mirror line or line of reflection.

Here we see the classic heart shape. It has a mirror line drawn vertically through its center.

reflecting plane The plane over which a preimage is reflected. Also called mirror. reflection A transformation in which each point is mapped onto its reflection image over a line or plane.

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reflection image The image of a figure reflected over a line. region The union of a polygon or circle with its interior is known as a region. regular polygon A convex polygon whose sides all have the same length and angles all have the same measure.

regular polyhedron A convex polyhedron whose faces are all congruent regular polygons and the same number of edges intersect at each of its vertices. There are only five of these that can be constructed out of a single polygon shape. They are: 1. Tetrahedron (four faces each an equilateral triangle) 2. Cube or Hexahedron (six faces each a square) 3. Octahedron (eight faces each an equilateral triangle) 4. Icosahedron (twenty faces each an equilateral triangle) 5. Dodecahedron (twelve faces each a regular pentagon)

regular prism A right prism whose base is a regular polygon.

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regular pyramid A right pyramid whose base is a regular polygon and whose lateral faces are congruent isosceles triangles.

Here we see a right pyramid with a square base. It would be classified as a regular pyramid.

Related Facts Property of Multiplication and Division If xy = P, then P/x = y and P/y = x. Or a numerical example: If you know that 4x6=24, then the related facts are 24/4=6 and 24/6=4. Repeated Addition Model for Multiplication If n is a positive integer, then nx = x + x + . . . + x. ( n addends) repetend The digits which repeat forever in an infinitely repeating decimal. Ex: "16" is the repetend in this example.

revolution A turn of 360 Also called full turn. . rhombus A quadrilateral with all sides of the same length.

right angle An angle whose measure is 90 A right angle will always be drawn . with a small square at its vertex. This removes all doubt that it is a 90 degree angle. If you don't see the square you cannot assume that it is a right angle.

right angle method A method for finding the center of a circle that involves constructing two inscribed right triangles. The intersection of their hypotenuses is

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the center.

right cone A cone whose axis is perpendicular to the plane of the circular base.

right cylinder A cylinder formed when the two circular bases are directly across from each other. The walls of a right cylinder are perpendicular to both bases.

right prism A right prism is formed when two polygonal bases are placed right across from each other. The walls of a right prism are perpendicular to both bases.

right pyramid A pyramid whose base is a regular polygon and in which the segment connecting its vertex to the center of its base is perpendicular to the plane of the base.

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In a right pyramid, the vertex will always be directly above the center of the regular polygon base.

right triangle A triangle with a right angle. In this example we see a right triangle with legs a and b and hypotenuse c. We also see an equation known as the Pythagorean Theorem which is true for every right triangle. rotation A transformation in which every point of the preimage is rotated by a given angle about a point (in two dimensions) or a line (in three dimensions).

rotation-symmetric figure A figure which when rotated less than 360 degrees will lie on top of itself.

rounding down Making an estimate that is smaller than the exact value. Ex: 13.74 rounded down to the preceding whole number is 13. rounding to the nearest Making an estimate to a particular decimal place by either rounding up or rounding down depending on which estimate is closest to the exact value.

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Ex: 13.74 rounded to the nearest whole number is 14. rounding up Making an estimate that is bigger than the exact value. Ex: 13.74 rounded up to the next tenth is 13.8. round-robin tournament A tournament in which each competitor plays each other exactly once. row A horizontal line of objects in a rectangular array.

Mathematical "S" Words

scale factor of size transformation In similar figures, the ratio of a distance or length in an image to the corresponding distance or length in a preimage. Also called ratio of similitude.

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Ex: When comparing the following small right triangle to its similar large right triangle, we see a scale factor of 1/2 or 0.5.

scalene triangle A triangle with no two sides of the same length.

scientific calculator A calculator which writes very large or small numbers in scientific notation and uses the powering, factorial, square root, negative, and reciprocal keys. This type of calculator has the proper arithmetical, "order of operations" installed in its brain. So it knows that parentheses must be calculated first, then exponents, then multiplication and division from left to right, and finally addition and subtraction from left to right. *Remember a cheap, non scientific calculator will perform the operations in the order that you enter them, so if you type 3+2x4 on a non scientific calculator, you get 20, which is the WRONG answer. The multiplication needs to be done FIRST so the correct answer is 11. A scientific calculator will give you the correct answer, because it knows it must multiply FIRST. scientific notation for large numbers A way of writing a large number in terms of a positive integer power of 10 multiplied by a number greater than or equal to 1 and less than 10. Ex: scientific notation for small numbers A way of writing a small number in terms of a negative integer power of 10 multiplied by a number greater than or equal to one and less than 10. Ex:

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secant to a circle A line that intersects a circle in two distinct points.

sector of a circle The figure bounded by two radii and the included arc of the circle.

segment On a line, the set consisting of the distinct points A and B (its endpoints) and all points between A and B. Also called line segment.

semicircle Half a circle. The arc of a circle whose endpoints are the endpoints of a diameter of the circle. Ex: is a semicircle of circle C.

short ton A unit of weight in the U.S. system of measurement equal to 2,000 pounds. side One of the segments which makes up a polygon. One of the rays of an angle. One of the faces of a solid.

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side of an angle An angle is the union of two rays with the same endpoint.

The rays are the sides and the common endpoint is called the vertex. There are many types of angles. See the definitions for zero angle, right angle, straight angle, acute angle, obtuse angle and reflex angle. side of a polygon One of the segments whose union is a polygon; also, the length of that segment. similar figures Two figures that have the same shape, but not necessarily the same size.

simple closed curve A figure that is closed and does not intersect itself. simple fraction A fraction with an integer in the numerator and a nonzero integer in the denominator. sine of an angle The ratio (leg opposite the angle / hypotenuse) in a right triangle. Abbreviated sin.

size change factor A number which multiplies other numbers to a change their size.

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Ex:

Here we see a size change factor of 1/2 going from the large triangle to the small. Or a size change factor of 2 if going from the small to the large triangle. size change of magnitude k A transformation in which the coordinates of the original figure have all been multiplied by k. Also called size change factor, and ratio of similitude. skew lines Lines that do not lie in the same plane and do not intersect.

slant height of a regular pyramid The altitude from the vertex on any one of the triangular, lateral faces of the pyramid. It is important to remember that the slant height is not the acutal height of the pyramid itself; it is just the height of one of the triangles that form a face of the pyramid.

slant height of a right cone The length of a lateral edge of the cone. It is important to note that the slant height of a right cone is not the height of the cone itself; it is just the distance a bug would walk if he walked in a straight line

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from a point on the base directly up to the vertex of the cone.

slide A translation of a given preimage. This occurs when given numbers are added to every "x" coordinate and or "y" coordinate of the preimage. The result is that the image appears to "slide" away from the preimage. slide image The result of adding the same number to the coordinates of the point in a figure. Also called translation image. slope The name for the constant rate of change between two points on a line. The amount of change in the height of the line as you go one unit to the right. The slope of the line through (x1,y1) and (x2,y2) is ................SLOPE

IS ALSO DESCRIBED AS:

A line with a positive slope will rise uphill from left to right.

A line with a negative slope will fall downhill from left to right.

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A line with zero slope is horizontal because it has no rise between any two points.

A vertical line has undefined slope because between any two points there is no run.

slope-intercept form An equation of a line in the form y=mx+b, where m is the slope and b is the y-intercept. small circle of a sphere The intersection of the sphere and a plane that does not contain the center of the sphere.

solid The union of a surface and the region of space enclosed by the surface.

solid geometry The study of figures in three-dimensional space. solution A value of a variable that makes an open sentence true. Ex: Given 3x+4=10, ............x=2 is the solution. solving an open sentence Finding value(s) of the unknown(s) in an open sentence that make it true.

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solving a proportion Finding the value of a variable that makes a proportion true.

space The set of all points in a geometry. space figure A figure whose points do not all lie in a single plane. Also called a three-dimensional figure. special case An instance of a pattern used for some definite purpose. Ex: Given the inequality , x=0 is a special case. In fact this special case proves that the given statement is false, because would be 0, and 0 is not greater than zero. Thus this special case is a counterexample to the given statement. sphere The set of points in space at a fixed distance (its radius) from a point (its center).

*Note this definition implies that all of the points on the iterior, or at a distance less than the radius, are not part of the sphere. If you want all those points too, you need something called a spherical solid. square A four-sided figure with four right angles and four sides of equal length. A rectangle with the same length and width.

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square root If A = s^2 , then s is called a square root of A. Ex: since both 3 and -3 are 9 when squared. Remember there are always two possible square roots, one positive, called the "principal" square root, and one negative. square units Units for measuring area. Ex: square inches, square meters, square miles, etc.. standard form of an equation for a line A equation for a line in the form Ax+By=C, where A and B are not both zero. straight angle An angle whose measure is 180 . straightedge An instrument for drawing the line through two points which has no marks for determining length. Substitution Principle If two numbers are equal, then one may be substituted for the other in any computation without changing the results of the computation. subtrahend b in the subtraction a - b. sufficient condition p is a sufficient condition for q if and only if p implies q. sum The result of an addition. supplementary angles Two angles whose measures add to 180 . surface The boundary of a three-dimensional figure. surface area The sum of the areas of the faces of a solid. symmetry diagonal (of a kite) The diagonal that connects the ends of the kite.

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symmetric figure A figure that coincides with its reflection image over a line.

symmetry line For a figure, a line m such that the figure coincides with its reflection image over m. See above the heart figure with the symmetry line down its center. symmetry plane For a figure, a plane M such that the figure coincides with its reflection image over M.

Mathematical "T" Words

table An arrangement of data in rows and columns.

Take-away Model for Subtraction If a quantity y is taken away from an original quantity x with the same units, the quantity left is x - y.

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tangent A line, ray, segment, or plane which intersects a curve or curved surface in exactly one point.

tangent of an angle The ratio (length of leg opposite to the angle/length of leg adjacent to the angle) in a right triangle. Abbreviated tan.

tangent circles Two circles that have exactly one point in common. EX: Here we see a design made of lots of tangent circles.

tenth A word name for

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terminal point The endpoint of a vector.

terminating decimal A decimal that ends. Also called finite decimal. terms Numbers or products of numbers and variables that are added. Ex: 3x +-8xy + 9 is an expression with three terms. Ex: here can be written as + also has three terms, remember the last subtraction .

tessellation A filling up of a two-dimensional space by congruent copies of a figure that do not overlap. The figure which is copied is commonly called the "fundamental region"

tetrahedron A polyhedron with four faces.

theorem A statement deduced from postulates, definitions, or other previously deduced theorems. 30-60-90 triangle A triangle in which the three angles measure 30, 60, and 90.

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3-dimensional coordinate system A system of coordinates used to locate points in space by their distances and directions from three mutually perpendicular lines.

three-dimensional figure A figure whose points do not all lie in a single plane.

transformation The movement of a figure in a plane from its original position, the preimage, to a new position, the image. Also called a map. Transformations can occur when there is a reflection, a rotation, a translation, or a glide reflection of the original image. translation A transformation in which every point of the preimage moves in the same direction by the same amount to form the image. A translation is also referred to as a "slide".

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translation image The result of adding the same numbers to the coordinates of the points in a figure. In the drawing above, triangle A'B'C' is the translation image of triangle ABC. Also called slide image. transversal A line that intersects two or more lines.

trapezoid A quadrilateral that has (at least) one pair of parallel sides. *NOTE some definitions omit the words at least.

traversable network A network in which all the arcs may be traced exactly once without picking up the tracing instrument.

*NOTE: a network is only traversable if it has less than three odd nodes (an odd node has an odd number of arcs entering it).

trial and error A problem-solving strategy in which various solutions are tried until the correct solution is found. triangle A polygon with three sides. Triangle-Sum Property In any triangle, the sum of the measures of the angles is 180 . triangular region A triangle and the space inside it.

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triangulate To split a polygon into nonoverlapping triangles. Triangulation is usually used to help find the areas of polygons.

trigonometric ratio A ratio of the lengths of the sides in a right triangle.

trillion A word name for 1,000,000,000,000 trillionth A word name for

, or .00000 00000 01.

trisect To divide into three congruent parts. truncate To cut off a number at a particular decimal place. Truncation does not mean that the decimal is rounded up, a part of it is simply cut off. Ex: 0.666666666666666 truncated to the hundredths place is 0.66. *NOTE some calculators are programmed to truncate and others to round up. A rounding calculator with a ten digit display would show 0.666666667 for the decimal above. truth value The condition of a statement in logic; either true or false. turn A transformation in which every point of the preimage is rotated by a given angle about a point (in two dimensions) or a line (in three dimensions).They are also called rotations.

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A turn in the clockwise direction is considered negative and one in the counterclockwise direction is considered positive.

two-column proof A form of written proof in which the conclusions are written in one column and the justifications are written beside them in a second column. EX: Given: Figure ABCDEF as drawn below

Prove: Figure ABCDEF is not a polygon.

1.) Figure ABCDEF is a union of segments in the plane: 2.) , , , , and the only segments in the figure. are

1.) Given 2.) Given 3.) Given 4.) It violates the definition of polygon.

3.) intersects with only at point B, and point A intersects no other segment. 4.) Therefore, Figure ABCDEF is not a polygon.

two-dimensional Pertaining to figures that lie in a single plane, or to their geometry. This is "flat land" so to speak.

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Mathematical "U" Words

undefined terms A term used without a specific mathematical definition. uniform scale A scale in which numbers that are equally spaced differ by the same amount. When creating a number line or coordinate grid system, you use a uniform scale.

Ex: union of two sets The set of elements which are in at least one of the sets. Ex: Let's say you are given the sets A={3,4,5} and B={4,5,6}, the union of the sets A and B, written A U B, would be {3,4,5,6}. Notice that there is no need to list the 4 and 5 twice. unit cost The cost per one unit of an object. unit fraction A fraction with 1 in its numerator and a natural number in its denominator. Ex: 1/3, 1/7 etc. Remember ZERO is not a natural number nor is 1/2 or .5 or -7, so no such numbers will be found in the denominator of a unit fraction. uniquely determined A situation in which there is exactly one element satisfying given conditions. Ex: In the equation 3x+4=13, x is uniquely determined because only one number satisfies this situation, 3. unit cube A cube in which every edge has length one unit. unit square A square in which each side has length one unit. unknown A variable which can be assigned different values.

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unlike terms Terms that involve different variables or the same variable with different exponents. EX: 3, 3x, and are all unlike terms.

U.S system of measurement A measurement system in common use in the United States today, based on inches and pounds. Also called the customary system of measurement.
12 inches = 1 foot 36 inches = 1 yard 5,280 feet = 1 mile 1 square mile = 640 acres 8 ounces = 1 cup 2 cups = 1 pint 2pints = 1 quart 4 quarts = 1 gallon 16 ounces = 1 pound 2,000 pounds = 1 ton

Mathematical "V" Words

value of a numerical expression The number that is the result of evaluating a numerical expression. Ex: the value of 2+3X4 is 14. Remember, the order of operations says that multiplication must be done first when evaluating this. value of an algebraic expression The number that is the result of evaluating an algebraic expression. Ex: the value of 3y +8 = 11 is 1. value of a variable A number that is substituted for a variable. variable A symbol that can stand for any one of a set of numbers or other objects.

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vector A quantity that has both magnitude and direction.

velocity the rate of change of distance with respect to time. vertex (plural vertices) The point two sides of a polygon have in common. The point of intersection of the sides of an angle.

vertex angle The angle included by equal sides of an isosceles triangle.

Here the vertex angle is at the top. vertex of a polyhedron Any of the vertices of the faces of the polyhedron. vertical angles Two nonstraight and nonzero angles formed by two intersecting lines, but which are not a linear pair. Vertical angles will always be congruent.

vertical component of a vector The second component in the ordered pair description of a vector, indicating its magnitude along the y-axis of the coordinate plane.

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Ex: Here we see a vector with an ordered pair description of (7,3). Three is the vertical component of this vector. vertical line A line with an equation x = h on the coordinate plane. Ex: The line x = -2 has every x value locked at -2 for every value of y, and it looks like this:

volume Measurement of the space inside a three-dimensional, or solid figure. The number of unit cubes or parts of unit cubes that can be fit into a solid. Also called capacity.

Mathematical "W" Words

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walk The composite of a reflection and a translation parallel to the reflecting line, also known as a glide reflection.

whole number Any of the numbers 0, 1, 2, 3, ... . width (of a rectangle) A dimensional of a rectangle or rectangular solid taken at right angles to the length. window That part of the plane that shows on the screen of an automatic grapher or automatic drawer.

Mathematical "Y" Words

y-axis The vertical number line in a coordinate graph. The line in the coordinate plane, usually vertical, or in space, containing those points whose first

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coordinates (and third, in space) are 0.

y-coordinate The second coordinate of an ordered pair or ordered triple. Ex: in the coordinate pair (3,-2), the negative two is the y-coordinate.

yard (yd) A unit of length in the U.S system of measurement equal to 3 feet or 36 inches. y-intercept The y-coordinate of a point where a graph crosses the y-axis.

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Mathematical "Z" Words

z-axis The line in a three-dimensional coordinate system containing those points whose first and second coordinates are 0.

zero angle An angle whose measure is zero.

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