variable
A letter or symbol used to represent a value that can change.
constant
A value that does not change.
numerical expression
An expression that contains only constants and operations. (ex. 5+7-2)
algebraic expression
A mathematical phrase involving at least one variable and sometimes numbers and operation symbols. (ex. x�4)
natural numbers
counting numbers 1,2,3,.....
whole numbers
the natural numbers and zero: 0,1,2,3,.....
integers
whole numbers and their opposites: ...-3,-2,-1,0,1,2,3,....
rational numbers
Any integer that can be written (a/b) where a and b are both integers and b?0
terminating decimals
rational numbers in decimal form that have a finite number of digits: ex) 1.5,2.75, 4.0
repeating decimals
Rational numbers in decimal form that have a block of one or more digits that repeats continuously.
irrational numbers
Numbers that cannot be expressed in the form a/b including square roots of whole numbers that are not perfect squares and non-terminating decimals that do not repeat. (ex. ? 2,?11,?)
real numbers
Any number that can be represented on a number line.
absolute value
The distance from zero on a number line. Always positive. (ex. |2|=2; |?2|=2)
coordinate plane
Formed by the intersection of two
perpendicular number lines.
ordered pair
The horizontal component and vertical component of a point. [ex. (3, 4)]
axes
Perpendicular number lines.
origin
The point of intersection of each 0 on two perpendicular number lines.
x-axis
The horizontal number line.
y-axis
The vertical number line.
x-coordinate
The first value in an ordered pair, which indicates the number of units to move right or left from the origin.
y-coordinate
The second value in an ordered pair, which indicates the number of units to move up or down from the origin.
quadrant
One of the four areas defined by the axes of the coordinate plane.
evaluate
To find the value of an algebraic expression by substituting a number for each variable and simplifying by using order of operations.
opposites
two numbers that are the same distance from zero on a number line but in opposite directions. For example 6 and -6.
additive inverse
a number and its opposite. For example 3+-3 = 0.
reciprocals
two numbers whose product is 1: ex. 2/3 and 3/2
multiplicative inverse
a number and its reciprocal: �5 is equivalent to x 1/5
power
an expression written with an exponent and a base: ex. ?� = 3 to the second power or 3 squared.
square root
a number that when multiplied by itself equals a given number.
perfect square
a number whose positive square root is a whole number.
order of operations
which operation to perform first when evaluating an expression (PEMDAS)
PEMDAS
(P) Perform operations inside grouping symbols such as parentheses (), brackets [] and braces {}
(E) Simplify powers (exponents)
(MD) do multiplication and division from left to right
(AS) do addition and subtraction from left to right
terms
the parts to be added or subtracted in an expression
like terms
terms that contain the same variables raised to the same powers. Constants are also like terms
coefficient
a number multiplied by a variable. Like terms can have different coefficients. A variable written without a coefficient has a coefficient of 1.
input
In y=10x+5, the value substituted for x
output
In y=10x+5, the value generated for y for a given value of x
base
A number that is raised to a power
exponent
A number that tells how many times the base should be multiplied by itself