Algebra 1 Vocabulary
expression
mathematical phrase containing numbers, variables and/or operations: 2 + 3(4x+ 5)
solution
the value(s) of a variable that make(s) an algebraic sentence true
rational numbers
this set of numbers includes integers, terminating decimals, and repeating decimals as well as fractions
simplify
to perform as many operations as possible in an expression
square root
- raise to the second power
inequality
a comparison of two expressions that uses one of the symbles <,>,=
ratio
a comparison of two numbers by division: 2 to 5, 2/5, or 2:5
variable
a letter used to stand for a number in an expression or equation
exponent
a mathematical notation indicating the number of times a quantity is multiplied by itself
function
a mathematical relation such that each element of one set is associated with at least one element of another set
factor
a number multiplied by another number to find a product
irrational numbers
a number represented by a non-repeating, non-terminating decimal - like pi or the square root of 2
square root
a number whose square equals the given number
term
a number, a variable, or a product of numbers and variables
reciprocal
a pair of numbers whose product is 1: 2/3 and 3/2; 7 and 1/7
coordinate plane
a system of intersecting horizontal and vertical number lines, used to locate points
whole numbers
all the counting numbers and zero {0,1,2,3,4,5...}
real numbers
all the numbers on the number line, positive, negative, and zero. They include fractions and decimals, and fill the entire number line leaving no gaps
equation
an algebraic sentence that has an equal sign
proportion
an algebraic sentence that states that two ratios are equal: 2/3 = 4/6
linear equation
an equation with solutions that lie on a straight line when graphed, may be written as y = mx + b where m is the slope and b is the y-intercept
identity property
describes the results of adding the number zero to another number or multiplying a number by one - the results are identical
parallel lines
lines that have the same slope but different y-intercepts, they never intersect
integers
made up of the counting numbers {1,2,3,4...), their opposites {-1,-2,-3,-4...}, and zero {0} irrational numbers:a number represented by a non-repeating, non-terminating decimal - like pi or the square root of 2
slope
on a coordinate plane, the steepness of a line, the rise divided by the run
grouping symbols
parentheses, brackets, braces, and vinculums used to make the order of operations clear: {[( )]} and /
distributive property
states that a product of a number and a sum can be found by adding, then multiplying or by multiplying then adding: a(b+c)=ab+ac
multiplicative property of zero
states that any number multiplied by zero is zero
commutative property
states that the order in which numbers are added or multiplied does not change the sum or the product: (1+2) + 3 = 1+(2+3)
associative property
states that the way in which numbers are grouped does not change the sum or the product: (1+2) + 3 = 1 + (2+3)
like terms
terms in an expression that have exactly the same variables with the same exponents - in "4xy^2 + 3xy + 2xy^2", 4xy^2 and 2xy^2
volume
the amount of 3-dimensional space occupied by an object measured in cubic units
quotient
the answer to a division problem
product
the answer to a multiplication problem
difference
the answer to a subtraction problem
sum
the answer to an addition problem
absolute value
the distance between a number and zero on a number line
linear measurement
the distance between two objects, a straight-line measurement of distance (inches, feet, yards, miles, meters)
quadrants
the four sections of a coordinate plane labeled counterclockwise I, II, III, IV
area
the measure, in square units, of the inside of a two dimensional plane figure.
coefficient
the number multiplied by a variable in a term - the "2" in "2xy^3"
order of operations
the order in which operations in an expression should be performed: PEMDAS
y-intercept
the point where the graph crosses the y-axis; the value of y when the x-coordinate is zero
percent
the ratio of a number to 100; means "per hundred"
graph of an equation
the set of all points (x, y) that are solutions of the equation, that make the equation true
perimeter
the total distance around a figure
to square
to raise to the 2nd power
ordered pair
two numbers, such as (2,3) that name a point on a grid
zero exponent
when the exponent is raised to the 0 power, it is always 1
evaluate
when you replace each variable with a number, then follow the order of operations rules
