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Our Math Dictionary has been organized in an alphabetical listing of the math terms defined. For your convenience the terms are also divided into three groups (A-I, J-R and S-Z). Many of the math terms listed in our Math Dictionary are also linked to a separate page with examples if you want to know more. Just click on the underlined terms to be taken from the Math Dictonary to specific pages which explain the terms in more detail.
Whole Numbers
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Math Dictionary A thru I
A
Absolute Value
The absolute value of a number (represented as
|number|) is the numerical value of that number without regard to the
sign of the number and is always expressed as the positive of the
number. For example |-7| = +7.
Addition
Addition is the process of putting things together. If you
start out with 2 apples and but them together with 3
additional apples then you have 5 apples. This is adding
2 apples + 3 apples to get 5 apples or 2+3=5.
Associative Property
The Associative Property is a rule that governs
how you group or associate numbers when you carry out a math
operation like addition or multiplication. Both addition and
multiplication are Associative but subtraction and division are not. In
general terms the Associative Property for addition is a + (b + c) = (a + b)+ c
and for multiplication is ax(bxc)=(axb)xc. In general terms for
subtraction the Associative Property is a -(b - c) NOT= (a - b)- c and for
division a/b/c) NOT=(a/b)/c.
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C
Commutative Property
The Commutative Property is a rule that governs
how you commute or "move around" numbers when you carry out a
math operation like addition or multiplication. Both addition and
multiplication are Commutative but subtraction and division are not. In
general terms of the Commutative Property for addition is a + b = b + a and
for multiplication a x b=b x a. In general terms the Commutative Property
for subtraction and division are a - b NOT= b - a and for division a/b NOT=
b/a.
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D
Decimals
A Decimal is a numerical way of expressing the result of
dividing the numerator of a fraction by the denominator of a fraction.
A decimal is expressed by a period, or decimal point, followed by a
series of numbers such as .2657 or sometimes 0.265 or for numbers
greater than 1 as 5.2657 The numbers after the decimal point can be
represented as fractions with 10 in the denominator. 0.2657 can be
thought of as (2/10 + 6/100 + 5/1000 + 7/10,000) or as 2,656/10,000.
Denominaotr
A fraction is defined as the ratio of two integers a/b (b
not = 0). The denominator is defined as the bottom number (b) of the
fraction a/b.
Distributive Property
The Distributive Property is a rule that governs
how you "spread" or distribute one math operation over another.
Both multiplication and division are Distributive over addition and
subtraction BUT addition and subtraction are NOT Distributive over
multiplication and division. As examples, in general terms
multiplication distributes over addition as a x (b + c) = (a x b) + (a x
c) and over subtraction as a x (b-c) = (a x b) - (a x c). However, for
addition over multiplication a + (b x c) NOT= (a+b) x (a+c) and for
subtraction over multiplication a - (b x c) NOT= (a-b) x (a-c).
Division
Division is the process of separating things into a defined
number of groups. If we have 20 apples and we want to separate them
into for groups each containing an equal number of apples, this is
represented by 8 apples /(divide by) 4. It is helpful to think of the
apples being equally placed in a big circular apple pie made with 8
whole apples. The pie is cut into 4 pieces with an equal number of
apples in each piece. The number of apples in each piece of pie will be
2. Therefore, 8 apples /(divide by) 4 = 2 apples or 8/4=2.
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F
Factoring
Factoring a number is simply breaking the number down into
various smaller numbers which when multiplied together give the original
number. For example, 6 has only two factors - 2 and 3. 12 can be
broken down into 2 and 6, or 3 and 4 or 2, 2 and 3.
Fractions
Fractions are rational numbers which a ration of an two
integers a/b (b cannot be 0). You can think of fractions as dividing a
pie into pieces. Each piece of pie is a fraction of a pie. The
bottom number b (the denominator) divides the size of the piece of pie
and the top number (a) defines how many pieces of pie you have.
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I
Integers
Integers are all the whole numbers plus all the negative
whole numbers. Thus the Integers are (an so on forever in the negative
direction)...-4, -3, -2, -1, 0, 1, 2, 3, 4...(and so on in the positive
direction).
Irrational
An irrational number is any number that can
not be expressed as ratio of integers. Irrational numbers when
expressed as decimals never repeat or terminate. An example of an
irrational number is the square root of 2.
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Math Dictionary J thru R
L
Least Common Denominator
The Least Common Denominator of two or more
fractions is the smallest number that can be evenly divided by all
denominators. It is helpful to think of the fractions as different
sized slices of pie. If you have 1/4 of a pie and 1/2 of a pie, the 1/2
piece can be cut in two pieces each of which is 1/4. You can see that
the 1/2 piece is = 2 x 1/4 pieces or 1/2 = 2/4. So in this case 4 is
the Least Common Denominator. You could have cut the 1/2 piece into 4
pieces (4/8) and the 1/4 piece into 2 pieced (2/8). This would give you
a common denominator of 8 but it would not be the Least Common
Denominator.
Long Division
Long division is a standard step-by-step procedure that
will allow you to divide any number by another number. You can think of
long division as a treasure map with step by step instructions on how to
find the treasure. Finding the treasure in long division is the answer
to Number 1 / Number 2.
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M
Multiplication
Multiplication is simply the process of repeated addition. It
is represented by a x sign as in 2 x 3. The first number fixes how many
times the second number must be added together. In this case 3 is added
together two times or 2 x 3 = 3 + 3 = 6. Or in the case of 4 x 2, 2 is
added together 4 times or 4 x 2 = 2 + 2 + 2 + 2 = 8.
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N
Natural Numbers
Natural numbers are the counting numbers 1, 2, 3,
4...(and so on forever). These are the first number we learn. Children
use natural numbers when they count their fingers and later their toes.
Number Line
The number line is a straight line with the center point
at 0, continuing on forever in each direction with all positive real
numbers to the right of 0 and all negative numbers to the left of 0.
Numerator
A fraction is defined as the ratio of two integers a/b (b
not = 0). The numerator is defined as the top number (a) of the fraction
a/b.
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Prime Number
A prime number is simply any natural number which can
only be divided evenly by itself 1. The first five prime numbers in
increasing order are 2, 3, 5, 7 and 9.
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R
Rational Numbers
A rational number is any number which can be expressed as a ratio of two
integers (ratioexcept zero. The top number of a fraction (a) is referred to as
the numerator and the bottom number of a fraction (b) is referred to as
the denominator. Rational numbers when expressed as decimals either
eventually repeat or terminate (come out even).
Real Numbers
The real numbers are all the rational numbers + all the
irrational numbers and constitute all the points on the number line.
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Math Dictionary S thru Z
S
Subtraction
Subtraction is the process to taking things away. If you
start out with 5 apples and "take away" 3 apples then you will have 2
apples left. This is "taking away" or subtracting 3 apples from 5
apples to give 2 apples or 5-3=2.
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W
Whole Numbers
Whole numbers are the natural counting numbers AND 0.
Thus, the whole numbers are 0, 1, 2, 3, 4 ...(and so on forever).
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