Math Vocabulary 1st Nine Weeks

Absolute Value

The distance between a number and zero on the number line. The symbol for absolute value is shown in this equation: |-8| = 8

Additive Inverse

The additive inverse of any number x is the number that gives zero when added to x. The additive inverse of 5 is -5.

Integer

The set of whole numbers and their opposites

Opposite Numbers

Two numbers that lie the same distance from 0 on the number line but in opposite directions.

Zero Pair

Pair of numbers whose sum is zero.

Negative Numbers

The set of numbers less than zero.

Positive Numbers

The set of numbers greater than zero.

Natural Numbers

The set of numbers {1, 2, 3, 4...}. Natural numbers can also be called counting numbers.

Rational Numbers

A ratio that can be written in the form a/b where a and b are integers and b ? 0.

Complex fraction

A fraction where the numerator, denominator, or both contain a fraction.

Convert

A change in the form of a measurement, different units, without a change in the size or amount.

Credit

A deposit or addition into a checking or savings account.

Debit

A deduction or withdrawal from a checking or savings account.

Multiplicative Inverse

Numbers that multiply to equal the one. The reciprocal of a number.

Repeating Decimal

A decimal number in which a digit or group of digits repeats without end.

Terminating Decimal

A decimal that contains a finite number of digits.

expression

A statement containing variables, constants, and operations. Does not have an equal sign.

Area

The size a surface takes up, measured in square units.

Coefficient

In a term, the number that is written before a variable. The number being multiplied by a variable. For example, in the term 3x, 3 is being multiplied by the variable x.

Constant

A quantity having a fixed value that does not change or vary, such as a number.

Distribute

A way of simplifying expressions; to spread out terms equally across an expression.

Equation

A mathematical statement that says that two expressions have the same value; any number sentence with an =.

Evaluate

To find the value of a numerical or algebraic expression.

Factor

To break down a number or expression into values that can be multiplied together to get the original number or expression.

Inequality

A mathematical expression which shows that two quantities are not equal. Contains the symbols ?, <, >, or ?.

Like terms

Terms that contain not only same variable but same exponent.

Perimeter

The total distance around a shape.

Substitute

To replace variables with numbers.

Term

A number, a variable, or a product and a number and variable.

Variable

A symbol, usually a letter, which is used to represent one or more numbers.