Maths Vocab

Algebra

A branch of mathematics that substitutes numbers for letters

Average

The sums of data divided by the number of items in the data will give an average

Acute Angle

An angle less than 90°

Area

The amount of space inside the boundary of a flat shape (2- dimensional) object

Angle

An angle is a combination of two rays (half-lines) with a common endpoint

Approximate

An Approximation is close to a value, but not completely accurate or exact

Asymmetrical

A shape which has no lines of symmetry

Arc

Part of the circumference (edge) of a circle

Average

A value to best represent a set of data. There are three type of average – the mean, the median and the mode

Axis

An axis is one of the lines used to locate a point in a coordinate system

Bearing

A three digit angle measured from north in a clockwise direction

BIDMAS

The order in which calculations should be carried out :(B)rackets (I)ndices (D)ivision (M)ultiplication (A)ddition (S)ubtraction

Brackets

A pair of symbols used to enclose sections of a mathematical expression

Bisect

To divide an angle or shape exactly in half.

Calculate

To work out an answer, usually by adding, dividing, subtracting or adding.

Centilitre (cl)

A metric unit of volume equal to one hundredth of a litre.

Coefficient

The number in front of an algebraic symbol. The coefficient of 6x is 6.

Constant

A letter or symbol whose value always stays the same. Example: in “x + 6 = 8”, 6 and 8 are constants x is variable.

Congruent

Two shapes are congruent when you can Turn, Flip and/or Slide one so it fits exactly on the other.

Centimetre (cm)

A measure of distance. 1 centimetre = 10 millimetres. (1 cm = 10 mm). 100 centimetres = 1 metre. (100 cm = 1 m).

Chord

A straight line drawn from one point on the edge of a circle to another.

Circumference

The perimeter, around, of a circle.

Credit

To add money or tokens. For example, I had £500 credited to my bank account.

Cross section

The end section created when you slice a 3D shape along its length.

Cube number

The product when an integer is multiplied by itself three times. For example 2 cubed = 2 x 2 x 2 = 16

Cuboid

A 3D shape with all sides made from rectangles. Like a cereal box.

Cumulative frequency

A running total of the frequencies, added up as you go along

Denominator

The Downstairs part of a fraction (bottom) part of a fraction.

Decagon

A ten sided polygon.

Debit

To take money out from a bank account. For example, £350 was debited from my account.

Decimal

Not a whole number or integer. For example, 3.6 or 0.235.

Day

A time period of 24 hours. There are 7 days in a week.

Decrease

To make an amount smaller.

Diameter

The distance across a circle which passes through the centre.

Difference

Subtract the smaller value from the larger value to find the difference between two numbers.

Distance

How far away an object is. For example, it is a distance of 5 miles to the shopping centre from

Distribution

How data is shared or spread out.

Equal

Used to show two quantities have the same value.

Equation

Two expressions which have the same value, separated by an ‘=’ sign. E.g. 2y = 6+ y

Estimate

Roughly calculate or judge the value, number, quantity, or extent of a quantity.

Even number

Any number which is a multiple of 2. Even numbers always end in 2, 4, 6, 8 or 0.

Expand

To multiply out brackets in an expression. For example, 2(4x + 10) = 8x + 20

Equilateral triangle

A triangle with all sides and angles the same size.

Expression

Numbers, symbols and operators (such as + and ×) grouped together that show the value of something. Example: 2×3 is an expression

Formula

An equation used to describe a relationship between two or more variables.

Factorise

To put an expression into brackets by taking out a common factor. For example, 2y+6 = 2(y+3)

Figures

Words as numbers. For example, one thousand and seventy in figures is 1070.

Factor

A number that divides (Fits) into another number exactly. E.g. 5 is a factor of 20.

Frequency

How many often something happens.

Frequency density

The frequency divided by the class width.

Gradient

How steep a line is. Found by Rise divided by Run.

Gram (g)

A measure of mass. 1 gram = 1000 milligrams. (1 g = 1000 mg)

HCF

The Highest Common Factor.

Heptagon

A seven sided polygon.

Hexagon

A six sided polygon.

Histogram

A diagram drawn with rectangles where the area is proportional to the frequency and the width is equal to the class interval.

Hypotenuse

The longest side on a right angled triangle.

Increase

To make an amount larger.

Indices

Another name for powers such as ² or ³.

Integer

A whole number.

Inter-quartile range (IQR)

The difference between the upper and lower quartile.

Irrational

A decimal which is never ending. It must also not be a recurring decimal.

Justify

This just means that you have to explain step by step.

Kilogram (Kg)

A measure of mass. 1 kilogram = 1000 grams. (1 kg = 1000 g)

Kilometre (Km)

A measure of distance. 1 kilometre = 1000 metres. (1 km = 1000 m)

LCM

Stands for ‘lowest common multiple’. It is the smallest multiple common to a set of numbers. E.g. The LCM of 3 and 4 is 12.

Litre (l)

A measure of volume. 1 litre = 100 centilitres (1 l = 100 cl). 1 litre = 1000 millilitres (1l = 1000 ml).

Loci

The plural of locus.

Locus

A collection of points which are the same distance from another point or line.

Lower range

The smallest value in a set of data.

Mean

A type of average found by adding up a list of numbers and dividing by how many numbers are in the list.

Median

The middle value when a list of numbers is put in order from smallest to largest. A type of average.

Metre (m)

A measure of distance. 1 metre = 100 centimetres. (1 m = 1000 cm).

Millilitre (ml)

A measure of volume. 10 millimetres = 1 centilitre (10 ml = 1 cl). 1000 millilitres = 1 litre (1000 ml = 1 l).

Millimetre (mm)

A measure of distance. 10 millimetres = 1 centimetre. (10 mm = 1 cm).

Modal

Same as mode, just another word for it!

Mode

The most common value. For example, 5, 6, 7,7, 4, 7, 3. This most common value is 7.

Month

Each of the twelve named periods into which a year is divided – from January to December.

Multiple

Found at the end of the times table. For example 6 x 3 = 18. So 18 is the multiple.

Natural number

A number that occurs commonly and obviously in nature. As such, it is a whole, non-negative number.

Negative

A value less than zero such as -3, -10

Nonagon

A nine sided polygon.

Numerator

The North part of a fractions! The top part of a fraction.

Obtuse angle

An angle between 90 and 180.

Octagon

An eight sided polygon.

Odd number

A number that is not a multiple of 2. Odd numbers always end in 1, 3, 5, 7 or 9.

Operation

An operation is an action or procedure which produces a new value. For example, addition, subtraction, division and multiplication are all operations.

Parallel

Two or more lines which are always the same distance apart.

Parallelogram

A quadrilateral with two pairs of parallel sides.

Pentagon

A five sided polygon.

Perimeter

The distance around a shape.

Perpendicular

Two or more lines which meet at right angles.

Pi (Π)

An irrational constant used when calculating the area and circumference of circles. It is approximately equal to 3.14.

Polygon

A many-sided figure, with sides that are line segments. Examples are, triangles, pentagon and hexagon.

Positive number

A number greater than zero.

Prime

A number which has exactly two factors. The number one and itself. Such as 5, 13, 23

Prism

A 3D shape with the same cross section all along its length.

Probability

A measure of how likely an event is to occur.

Product

The answer when two values are multiplied together.

Quadratic equation

Is an equation with the highest power being a 2. For example, y = x^2 + 6x + 10.

Quadrilateral

A four sided polygon.

Radius

The distance from the centre of a circle to its circumference.

Random sampling

A method of choosing people at random for a survey.

Range

The largest number take away the smallest value in a set of data.

Rational

A decimal number which ends or is recurring.

Reciprocal

The reciprocal of any number is 1 divided by the number. E.g. the reciprocal of 3 is 1/3, the reciprocal of 3/4 is 4/3.

Recurring

A decimal number that has digits that repeat forever. Examples: 1/3 = 0.333… 1/7 = 0.142857142857…

Reflex angle

An angle greater than 180.

Regular

A shape with all sides and angles the same size.

Remainder

In mathematics, the remainder is the amount “left over” after performing some computation. 16/7 = 2 remainder 2 =

Right angle

An angle of 90.

Rotation

To turn a shape using an angle, direction and centre of rotation.

Round

To reduce the amount of significant figures or decimal places a number has. For example £178 rounded to the nearest £10 is £180.

Scale factor

How many times larger or smaller an enlarged shape will be.

Segment

An area of a circle enclosed by a chord.

Sequence

A list of numbers which follows a pattern. For example 5, 7, 9, 11, …

Simplify

Simplify means to make simpler by cancellation of common factors, regrouping of terms in the same variable

Solid

A 3D shape.

Solve

To find the missing value in an equation.

Speed

How fast an object is moving. Average speed = Total distance divided by time taken.

Square number

The product when an integer is multiplied by itself. For example, 2×2 =4, 3×3 =6

Sum

The answer when two or more values are added together.

Surface area

To total area of all sides on a 3D shape.

Symmetrical

A shape which has at least one line of symmetry.

Tally

Tally marks are a quick way of keeping track of numbers in groups of five.

Tangent

A straight line that just touches a point on a curve. A tangent to a circle is perpendicular to the radius which meets the tangent.

Term

A number, variable or combination of both which forms part of an expression.

Transformation

The name for reflections, rotations, translations and enlargements.

Translation

To move a shape from one position to another by sliding in the x-axis followed by the y-axis.

Trapezium

A quadrilateral with one pair of parallel sides.

Tree diagram

A method of solving probability questions by listing all the outcomes of an event in what looks like tree branches.

Triangle

A three sided polygon.

Triangular number

A sequence of numbers generated by adding one more than was added to find the previous term. For example, 1, 3, 6, 10, 15, 21, …

Units

A quantity used to describe a measurement. Examples are kilograms and metres.

Upper range

The largest value in a set of data.

Value

A numerical amount or quantity.

Variable

A letter which we don’t know the value of.

Volume

The amount an object can hold. E.g. a bottle of water can have a volume of 2 litres.

Week

A time period of 7 days. 168 hours!

Wide

Used to describe the width of something

Width

The measurement or extent of something from side to side

X-Axis

The horizontal axis on a graph. The line going across the page.

Y-Axis

The vertical axis on a graph. The line going from top to bottom.

Y-Intercept

The value of the y-coordinate when a graph crosses the y-axis.

Year

The time taken by the earth to make one revolution around the sun. 365 days starting in January.

Z-Axis

Represents the depth of an object when working with 3D coordinates.