Math Math GlossaryGlossary

natural numbers natural numbers The numbers used for The numbers used for

counting: counting: {1, 2, 3, 4, ...}. {1, 2, 3, 4, ...}.

whole numbers whole numbers The set of whole numbers is:The set of whole numbers is:

{0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, ...}. {0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, ...}.

numerator numerator The number above the The number above the

fraction bar that shows how fraction bar that shows how many equivalent parts are many equivalent parts are being considered. being considered.

denominator denominator The number below the The number below the

fraction bar in a fraction. fraction bar in a fraction. It shows the number of equal It shows the number of equal

parts in a whole. parts in a whole.

factor factor Any number that divides Any number that divides

evenly (without remainder) evenly (without remainder) into the given number: into the given number:

1, 2, 3 and 6 are factors of 6.1, 2, 3 and 6 are factors of 6.

product product The answer to a The answer to a

multiplication problem. multiplication problem. 6 is the product of 2 times 3.6 is the product of 2 times 3.

factored factored A number is factored by A number is factored by

writing it as the product of writing it as the product of two or more numbers. two or more numbers. 6 is factored as 2 times 3.6 is factored as 2 times 3.

prime number prime number A natural number (except A natural number (except

one) that has only one and one) that has only one and itself as factors. itself as factors.

2, 3, 5, 7, 11, 13, and 17 are 2, 3, 5, 7, 11, 13, and 17 are prime numbers.prime numbers.

composite number composite number A composite number has at A composite number has at

least one factor other than least one factor other than itself and one. itself and one.

greatest common greatest common factor (GCF) factor (GCF)

The largest common factor of The largest common factor of a list of integers or the a list of integers or the largest term that is a factor of largest term that is a factor of all terms in the polynomial. all terms in the polynomial.

lowest terms lowest terms A fraction is in lowest terms A fraction is in lowest terms

when there are no common when there are no common factors in the numerator and factors in the numerator and denominator (except 1). denominator (except 1).

reciprocals reciprocals Pairs of numbers whose Pairs of numbers whose

product is 1:product is 1:1/3 and 3 are reciprocals.1/3 and 3 are reciprocals.

quotient quotient The answer to a division The answer to a division

problem. problem.

sum sum The answer to an addition The answer to an addition

problem. problem.

least common least common denominator (LCD) denominator (LCD)

Given several denominators, Given several denominators, the smallest expression that the smallest expression that is divisible by all the is divisible by all the denominators is called the denominators is called the least common denominator. least common denominator.

mixed number mixed number A whole number and a A whole number and a

fraction written together and fraction written together and understood to be their sum. understood to be their sum.

difference difference The answer to a subtraction The answer to a subtraction

problem. problem.

exponent (power) exponent (power) A number that indicates how A number that indicates how

many times a factor is many times a factor is repeated:repeated:

Given 2Given 233 the exponent is the exponent is three.three.

base base The number that is a The number that is a

repeated factor when written repeated factor when written with an exponent: with an exponent:

Given 2Given 233 the base is two. the base is two.

variable variable A variable is a symbol used to A variable is a symbol used to

represent an unknown represent an unknown number:number:

In the term 3x the variable is In the term 3x the variable is x. x.

algebraic expression algebraic expression Any collection of numbers or Any collection of numbers or

variables joined by the basic variables joined by the basic operations of addition, operations of addition, subtraction, multiplication, or subtraction, multiplication, or division (except by zero), or division (except by zero), or the operation of taking roots. the operation of taking roots.

equation equation A statement that two A statement that two

algebraic expressions are algebraic expressions are equal: equal:

Example: 4x = 5y.Example: 4x = 5y.

number line number line A line with a scale that is A line with a scale that is

used to show how numbers used to show how numbers relate to each other. relate to each other.

negative number negative number A number located to the left A number located to the left

of zero on a number line. of zero on a number line.

positive number positive number A number located to the right A number located to the right

of zero on the number line. of zero on the number line.

signed numbers signed numbers Numbers that can be written Numbers that can be written

with a positive or negative with a positive or negative sign. sign.

integers integers The set of integers is:The set of integers is:

{...-3, -2, -1, 0, 1, 2, 3,...}. {...-3, -2, -1, 0, 1, 2, 3,...}.

graph of a number graph of a number The point on a number line The point on a number line

that corresponds to a number that corresponds to a number is its graph. is its graph.

rational numbers rational numbers Rational numbers can be Rational numbers can be

written as the quotient of two written as the quotient of two integers, with denominator integers, with denominator not zero. not zero.

set-builder notation set-builder notation Set-builder notation is used to Set-builder notation is used to

describe a set of numbers describe a set of numbers without actually having to list without actually having to list all of the elements. all of the elements.

irrational numbers irrational numbers Irrational numbers cannot be Irrational numbers cannot be

written as the quotient of two written as the quotient of two integers but can be integers but can be represented by points on the represented by points on the number line. number line.

real numbers real numbers All numbers that can be All numbers that can be

represented by points on the represented by points on the number line, that is, all number line, that is, all rational and irrational rational and irrational numbers. numbers.

additive inverse additive inverse Two numbers that are the Two numbers that are the

same distance from zero on a same distance from zero on a number line but on opposite number line but on opposite sides of zero. The sum of two sides of zero. The sum of two additive inverses equals zero.additive inverses equals zero.

term term A number, a variable, or the A number, a variable, or the

product or quotient of a product or quotient of a number and one or more number and one or more variables raised to powers. variables raised to powers.

numerical coefficient numerical coefficient The numerical factor in a The numerical factor in a

term. In the term 6xterm. In the term 6x22 the the numerical coefficient is 6.numerical coefficient is 6.

like terms like terms The same variables raised to The same variables raised to

exactly the same powers. exactly the same powers. The terms 2xThe terms 2x22 and 7x and 7x22 are like are like terms.terms.

unlike terms unlike terms Terms that do not have the Terms that do not have the

same variable or the same variable or the variables are not raised to the variables are not raised to the same powers. The terms 2xsame powers. The terms 2x22 and 7xand 7x33 are unlike terms. are unlike terms.

combining like terms combining like terms A method of adding or A method of adding or

subtracting like terms by subtracting like terms by using the properties of real using the properties of real numbers:numbers:

2x2x22 + 7x + 7x22 = 9x = 9x22. .