GED Math Vocabulary
Box plot : A box-shaped graph of data split into four parts, or quartiles
consecutive numbers : numbers in counting order; Example: 1,2,3,4,5....
Histogram : a graph of how number data is distributed
Mean : average
Proportion : two ratios or fractions are equal, such as 1/2 and 2/4.
Scientific notation : a number written as the product of a number between 1 and 10 and a power of 10
Denominator : the bottom number in a fraction
Difference : the answer to a subtraction problem
Greatest common factor : the greatest factor that divides two numbers
Improper fraction : a fraction in which the numerator is greater than or equal to the denominator
Proper fraction : a fraction in which the numerator is less than the denominator (the top number is smaller than the bottom)
Sum : the answer to an addition problem
Cube root : the opposite of the cube of a number; a square root, but to the 3rd power, rather than the 2nd. (the cube root of 8 is 2, because 2 x 2 x 2 = 8)
Distributive property of multiplication : For any numbers a, b, and c, a(b+c) = ab+bc and a(b-c) = ab-ac.
Function : a special relationship where each input has a single output. It is often written as "f(x)" where x is the input value
Inequality : Two amounts are not equal
Square root : one of two equal factors of a number
Unknown OR Variable : a symbol, usually a letter, that represents a solution to an equation
Congruent figures : geometric figures with exactly the same shape and same size
Cylinder : a 3-dimensional figure that has both a circular base and a circular top, and whose height is the perpendicular distance from the top to the bottom
Line segment : a straight path of points with definite length, having two endpoints.
Parabola : the curve formed by the graph of a quadratic equation
Pi : the Greek letter that represents the ratio of the circumference of a circle to its diameter. The approximate value of pi is 3.14 or 22/7
Plane : a flat surface
Radius : the distance from the center of a circle to its circumference
Rectangle : a four-sided figure with four right angles and with two pairs of parallel sides
Similar figures : geometric figures with the same shape but not necessarily the same size
Slope : The angle or "steepness" of a line. The slope is y divided by x, or "rise over run."
Trapezoid : a four-sided figure with one pair of parallel sides
Triangle : a closed plane figure with three sides and three angles
Average (mean) : Add up all of the numbers in a set and divide them by the number of numbers.
Coefficient : A number attached to the variable (letter) in algebra that tells us how much to multiply or divide (fraction) the unknown number by.
Integer : positive and negative numbers and zero
Negative number : a number less than zero
Power : a product of identical factors. For example, 3^2, or "3 to the second power" means 3x3. The base is 3 and the exponent is 2.
Prime number : a number that is evenly divisible only by itself and 1
add/addition : finding a total (sum)
algebraic expression : a mathematical expression (number sentence) that contains variables (letters, unknown amounts).
canceling : Multiplying or dividing to simplify
chart : A math picture
comparing : -deciding which value is greater -putting numbers in order -using equality and inequality symbols like >,<
constant of proportionality : Keeping two values in proportion as in cooking (doubling a batch).
dependent variable : the output of a function, the variable whose value depends on the value of the input
diagonal : A line connecting the corners of two sides of a shape that do not touch, when the shape has four or more sides.
elimination method : rewriting a linear system by adding equations to get a new equation in one variable
equation : a mathematical statement that says two expressions are equal
face : a polygon (shape with 3 or more sides) that is part of a 3D figure
factoring an expression : finding the terms or expressions (called factors) multiply together to make the bigger expression
independent variable : the value that determines another value (called an output-dependent variable)
indirect measurement : measuring or estimating when there is no actual way to measure
isolate the variable : perform operations to get letter alone and find out what number it is
key : the part of the graph that indicates how to interpret symbols or colors
lower quartile : median of the lower half of data in data set
lowest (or least) common denominator : the smallest number that is a common multiple of the denominators of two or more fractions
order of operations : a sequence agreed upon by mathematicians, for performing mathematical operations: 1. Operations in grouping symbols2. Exponents & Roots3. Multiplication & Division from left to right4. Addition & Subtraction from left to right
origin : the point at which the x-axis and y-axis in a coordinate graph intersect
point : a single, exact location often represented by a dot
polynomial : An expression (number sentence) with more than one term (ex. 2x, 3y, etc...)
random : selected by chance, with no outcome more likely than any other
range : the distance between the lowest number and the highest number in a set
repeating decimal : a decimal that continues forever, repeating a pattern of digits. This is shortened with a line over the digits that repeat.
right prism : a prism where congruent (equal) bases (sides) have right angles
signed numbers : positive & negative numbers
simple interest : a fee charged for borrowing money (or earned for investing money) for a particular period of timeprincipal (amount borrowed) x rate x time = interest
solve : find the answer (Find the number that makes a statement, algebraic expression or equation true)
square unit : unit used to measure the area of a 2D figure
unit price : the cost of one item
unlike fractions : fractions with different denominators (bottom numbers)
x-intercept : the point at which a line crosses the x-axis on a coordinate graph; the ordered pair (x , 0)
y-axis : the vertical axis in a coordinate graph
scalene triangle : a triangle with no congruent (equal) sides
congruent : equal in measure, size or shape
sector : The part of a circle that looks like a piece of pie.
central angle : an angle whose vertex is the center of the circle
