math definitions

Open Sentence

A mathematical statement that can be either true or false depending what values are used. (open sentence)

point-slope form

the equation of a straight line in the form y − y1 = m(x − x1) where m is the slope of the line and (x1, y1) are the coordinates of a given point on the line (point slope form)

variable

A symbol for a number we don't know yet. It is usually a letter like x or y.

identity

An equation that is true no matter what values are chosen. (identity) Example: a/2 = a × 0.5 is true no matter what value is chosen for "a"

like terms

terms whose variables (and their exponents such as the 2 in x2) are the same

coefficient

a number used to multiply a variable

literal equation

A literal equation is an equation where variables represent known values.

algebraic expression

An algebraic expression is a mathematical phrase that can contain ordinary numbers, variables (like x or y) and operators (like add,subtract,multiply, and divide). In the above expression the "/" means divide. The "3x" means multiply the variable x by 3.

formula

an equation that states a rule for the relationship between certain quantities

identity

an equation which is true regardless of what values are substituted for any variables (if there are any variables at all)

input value

input - the act or process of putting in.

inequality

An inequality says that two values are not equal.

base

Definition 1: The number that is going to be raised to a power. (base) Example: in 82, 8 is the base

exponents

The exponent of a number says how many times to use that number in a multiplication. It is written as a small number to the right and above the base number.

evaluate

To calculate the value of. Example: Evaluate the cost of each pie when 3 pies cost $6. Answer: $2 each.

reltion

a relation is a set of ordered pairs

independant variable

a variable (often denoted by x ) whose variation does not depend on that of another.

function

function definition. In mathematics, a quantity whose value is determined by the value of some other quantity. For example, "The yield of this field is a function of the amount of fertilizer applied" means that a given amount of fertilizer will yield an amount of whatever crop is growing.

power

The power of a number shows you how many times to use the number in a multiplication. It is written as a small number to the right and above the base number. In this example: 82 = 8 × 8 = 64 (Another name for power is index or exponent)

equation

a mathematical sentence that contains an equal sign

constant

a number on its own, or sometimes a letter such as a, b or c to stand for a fixed number

weighted average

an average resulting from the multiplication of each component by a factor reflecting its importance.

consecutive integers

integers that follow each other in order

uniform motion

moving in a straight line at a constant speed

term

parts of an expression or series separated by + or - signs, or the parts of a sequence separated by commas

perpendicular lines

perpendicular lines are Lines that are at right angles (90°) to each other.

simplify

To make simple or simpler, as: a. To reduce in complexity or extent. b. To reduce to fundamental parts. c. To make easier to understand.

compound inequality

A compound inequality is a sentence with two inequality statements joined either by the word "or" or by the word "and."

dependant variable

A dependent variable is what you measure in the experiment and what is affected during the experiment. The dependent variable responds to the independent variable.

direct variation

Definition of DIRECT VARIATION. 1 : mathematical relationship between two variables that can be expressed by an equation in which one variable is equal to a constant times the other. 2 : an equation or function expressing direct variation — compare inverse variation.

parallel lines

In geometry, parallel lines are lines in a plane which do not meet; that is, two lines in a plane that do not intersect or touch at any point are said to be parallel.

consecutive integer

Numbers which follow each other in order, without gaps, from smallest to largest. 12, 13, 14 and 15 are consecutive numbers. 22, 24, 26 and 28 are consecutive even numbers.

distributive property

The Distributive Law says that multiplying a number by a group of numbers added together is the same as doing each multiplication separately