Math Glossary

Understanding math terms is important because mathematics is often referred to as the language of science and the universe. This glossary covers fundamental math concepts ranging from absolute value to zero slope, including terms from different math branches such as algebra, geometry, and calculus.

Terms

Absolute Value

Always a positive number, absolute value refers to the distance of a number from 0.

Acute Angle

An angle whose measure is between zero degrees and 90 degrees.

Addend

A number involved in an addition problem; numbers being added are called addends.

Algebra

The branch of mathematics that substitutes letters for numbers to solve for unknown values.

Algorithm

A procedure or set of steps used to solve a mathematical computation.

Angle

Two rays sharing the same endpoint (called the angle vertex).

Area

The two-dimensional space taken up by an object or shape, given in square units.

Average

The average is the same as the mean. Add up a series of numbers and divide the sum by the total number of values to find the average.

Base

The bottom of a shape or three-dimensional object, what an object rests on.

Binomial

A polynomial equation with two terms usually joined by a plus or minus sign.

Calculus

The branch of mathematics involving derivatives and integrals, Calculus is the study of motion in which changing values are studied.

Circumference

The complete distance around a circle or a square.

Coefficient

A letter or number representing a numerical quantity attached to a term (usually at the beginning).

Complementary Angles

Two angles that together equal 90 degrees.

Composite Number

A positive integer with at least one factor aside from its own. Composite numbers cannot be prime because they can be divided exactly.

Constant

A value that does not change.

Coordinate

The ordered pair that gives a precise location or position on a coordinate plane.

Decimal

A real number on the base ten standard numbering system.

Denominator

The bottom number of a fraction. The denominator is the total number of equal parts into which the numerator is being divided.

Diameter

A line that passes through the center of a circle and divides it in half.

Difference

The difference is the answer to a subtraction problem, in which one number is taken away from another.

Digit

Digits are the numerals 0-9 found in all numbers.

Dividend

A number divided into equal parts (inside the bracket in long division).

Divisor

A number that divides another number into equal parts (outside of the bracket in long division).

Equation

A statement that shows the equality of two expressions by joining them with an equals sign.

Even Number

A number that can be divided or is divisible by 2.

Exponent

The number that denotes repeated multiplication of a term, shown as a superscript above that term.

Fraction

A quantity that is not whole that contains a numerator and denominator.

Mean

The mean is the same as the average. Add up a series of numbers and divide the sum by the total number of values.

Median

The median is the middle value in a list ordered from smallest to largest.

Mode

The mode in a list of numbers are the values that occur most frequently.

Numerator

The top number in a fraction. The numerator is divided into equal parts by the denominator.

Odd Number

A whole number that is not divisible by 2.

Perimeter

The total distance around the outside of a polygon. This distance is obtained by adding together the units of measure from each side.

Pi

Pi is used to represent the ratio of the circumference of a circle to its diameter, denoted with the Greek symbol π.

Polynomial

The sum of two or more monomials.

Prime Number

Prime numbers are integers greater than one that are only divisible by themselves and 1.

Probability

The likelihood of an event happening.

Product

The sum obtained through the multiplication of two or more numbers.

Quotient

The solution to a division problem.

Radius

A distance found by measuring a line segment extending from the center of a circle to any point on the circle.

Ratio

The relationship between two quantities. Ratios can be expressed in words, fractions, decimals, or percentages.

Right Angle

An angle equal to 90 degrees.

Slope

Slope shows the steepness or incline of a line and is determined by comparing the positions of two points on the line.

Square Root

A number squared is multiplied by itself; the square root of a number is whatever integer gives the original number when multiplied by itself.

Supplementary Angles

Two angles are supplementary if their sum is equal to 180°.

Variable

A letter used to represent a numerical value in equations and expressions.

Volume

A unit of measure describing how much space a substance occupies or the capacity of a container, provided in cubic units.