Word Definition Example

Numerator The top part of a fraction.

Denominator The bottom part of a fraction.

Place ValueThe numerical value that a digit has by its position in

a number.

Simplest Form

A fraction is in simplest form when the top and

bottom cannot be divided by the same whole

number (bigger than one).

Percent One part in every hundred.

Word Definition Example

IntegersAll natural numbers

(counting numbers) and their opposites plus zero.

Rational NumbersA number written as a ratio a/b where a and b

are both integers and b is not equal to zero.

Coordinate Plane

The plane determined by a horizontal number line, called the x-axis, and a vertical number line,

called the y-axis, intersecting at a point

called the origin.

Ordered Pair

A pair of numbers used to locate a point on a

coordinate plane; the first number tells you how far to move horizontally and the second number tells

you how far to move vertically.

OriginThe point where the x-axis

and the y-axis in the coordinate plane intersect

or cross.

Word Definition Example

PointA dot on the coordinate plane that represents an

ordered pair.

QuadrantAny of the four areas made when we divide up a plan

by an x and y-axis. They are numbered I, II, III, and IV.

Natural Numbersor

Counting Numbers

The numbers that start with 1 and count by 1s. For

example 1, 2, 3…

Whole NumbersNatural numbers or

counting numbers plus zero.

Linear RelationshipA relationship of direct

proportionality that, when plotted on a graph, traces a

straight line.

Word Definition Example

Term

A single number or variable, or numbers and

variables multiplied together. It is separated by

+ or – signs.

Product The answer to a multiplication problem.

FactorsThe numbers we multiply together to get another

number.

Quotient The answer to a division problem.

Dividend The amount that you want to divide.

Word Definition Example

Divisor The number by which the dividend is divided.

FractionOne number written over

another number, separated by a division

bar.

Greatest Common Factor (GCF)

The largest whole number that divides evenly into two or more numbers.

Reciprocal What to multiply a value by to get 1.

Unit Fraction

A rational number written as a fraction where the

numerator is one and the denominator is a whole

number.

Word Definition Example

Improper Fraction

A fraction where the numerator is larger than the denominator. This fraction has a value greater than one.

Proper Fraction

A fraction where the numerator is smaller than

the denominator. This fraction has a value less

than one.

Mixed NumberA number consisting of an

integer and a proper fraction. This number has a value greater than one.

OppositesTwo numbers that are

equal distance from zero on the number line.

Additive InverseA number that, when

added to another number, gets a sum of zero.

Word Definition Example

Inverse Property of AdditionAny number plus its

opposite gets a sum of zero.

Zero Pair One pair of numbers whose sum is zero.

Expression

A mathematical phrase that can contain numbers,

variables, and mathematical operations. There is no equals sign.

Equation

Two mathematical phrases that can contain numbers,

variables, and mathematical operations joined by an equals sign.

RatioA comparison of two

quantities separated by a colon, the word “to,” or a

fraction bar.

Word Definition Example

RateA special ratio in which the

two quantities are in different units.

Unit Rate

A special ratio in which the two quantities are in

different units and the second quantity is a value

of one.

Unit Price

A special ratio in which the first quantity is a price and

the second quantity is a measurement with a value

of one.

Ratio Table

A table that represents the relationships between

different ratios. It shows a comparison of two or more

quantities.

Equivalent RatiosTwo ratios that express the same relationship between

numbers.

Word Definition Example

Scale Factor

A number that scales, or multiplies, some quantity. This number is the ratio between the size of a

model or other representation to the actual

size of the object represented.

ScalingThe act of measuring or arranging or adjusting according to a scale.

Conversion FactorA factor used to multiply or

divide a quantity when converting from one

system of units to another.

Benchmark FractionsA common fraction that you

can use to judge other numbers against.

Benchmark PercentsA common percent that you

can use to judge other numbers against.

Word Definition Example

Proportion Two equal ratios.

Percent ProportionTwo equal ratios with one

ratio having a percent over a 100.

Independent Quantity or Independent Variable

A number or variable in a mathematical equation or expression whose value

determines the dependent variable.

Dependent Quantity or Dependent Variable

A number or variable that depends on another value.

InputIn equation form this is another word for the

variable x. This is what is going into the equation.

Word Definition Example

Output

In equation form this is another word for the

variable y. This is what is coming out of the

equation.

Sequence A sequence is an ordered collection of numbers.

Variable A letter that represents one or more numbers.

Arithmetic SequenceA sequence of numbers such that the difference between the consecutive

terms is constant.

Geometric Sequence

A sequence of numbers where each term after the

first is found by multiplying the previous one by a fixed, non-zero

number.

Word Definition Example

Sum The answer to an addition problem.

Additive Relationship

A relationship found by taking the x values or inputs and adding a

certain number to get the y values or outputs.

Written in the form y=x+a, where a is any

rational number.

Multiplicative Relationship

A relationship found by taking the x values or

inputs and multiplying a certain number to get

the y values or outputs. Written in the form y=ax,

where a is any rational number.

Difference The answer to a subtraction problem.

Mathematical OperationsThe four main operations

in math: adding, subtracting, multiplying,

and dividing.

Word Definition Example

Base In a power, the number used as a factor.

Equivalent Expressions Expressions that have the same value.

ExponentIn a power, the number that tells you how many times the base is used as

a factor.

Powers Numbers expressed using using exponents.

you would say…“Two to the fourth power”

Perfect SquareNumbers with square roots that are whole

numbers.

Word Definition Example

Numerical Expression A combination of numbers and operations.

Evaluate(an algebraic expression)

To find the value of an algebraic expression by replacing variables with numbers and solving.

Prime NumberA whole number with

exactly two unique factors, 1 and itself.

Composite NumberA whole number that has

more than two unique factors.

Prime FactorizationA way of expressing a

composite number as a product of its prime factors.

Word Definition Example

Order of OperationsThe rules that tell which operation to perform first

when more than one operation is used. Grouping Symbols

Exponents Multiplying/Dividing Adding/Subtracting

AlgebraA mathematical language

of symbols, including variables.

Algebraic ExpressionA combination of variables, numbers, and at least one

operation.

Like TermsTerms that contain the same variable(s) to the

same power.

Defining the VariableChoosing a variable and

deciding what the variable represents.

Word Definition Example

Properties Statements that are true for any number.

a+b+c=c+b+a

ax(bxc)=(axb)xc

a+(-a)=0

bx1=b

Commutative PropertyThe order in which numbers

are added or multiplied does not change the sum or

product.

Commutative Property of Addition

a+b+c=c+b+aOR

Commutative Property of Multiplicationa ∙b ∙ c=c ∙b ∙ a

Associative PropertyThe way in which numbers are grouped when adding

or multiplying does not change the sum or product.

Associative Property of Addition

a+(b+c)=(a+b)+cOR

Associative Property of Multiplicationa ∙(b ∙ c )=(a ∙b) ∙ c

Identity Property

Properties that state that the sum of any number and 0 equals that number and the product of any number and 1 equals that number.

Identity Property of Additiona+0=a

ORIdentity Property of

Multiplicationa ∙1=a

Inverse Property

Properties that state that the sum of any number and its opposite is always zero

and the product of any number and its reciprocal is

always one.

Inverse Property of Additiona+(−a)=0

ORInverse Property of

Multiplicationa ∙ 1a=1

Word Definition Example

Inverse Operations Operations that undo each other.

Distributive Property

To multiply a sum or difference by a number,

multiply each term by the number outside the

parenthesis.

Factor the ExpressionThe process of writing numeric or algebraic

expressions as a product of their factors.

CoefficientThe numerical factor of a

term that contains a variable.

Constant A term without a variable.