ALGEBRA 1: FOUNDATIONS FOR ALGEBRA
Reciprocal
Given a nonzero rational number a/b, the reciprocal, or multiplicative inverse, is b/a. The product of a nonzero numbers and its reciprocal is 1.
Evaluate
To substitute a given number for each variable, and then simplify.
Simplify
To write and expression in its simplest form.
Integers
Whole numbers and their opposites.
Numerical expression
A mathematical phrase involving numbers and operation symbols, but no variables.
Algebraic expression
A mathematical phrase that includes one or more variables.
Inequality
A mathematical sentence that compares the values of two expressions using an inequality symbol.
Equation
A mathematical sentence that uses an equal sign.
Square root
A number of such that a2=b. square root of b is the principle square root. -square root of b is the negative square root.
Base
A number that is multiplied repeatedly.
Exponent
A number that shows repeated multiplication.
Term
A number, variable, or the product or quotient of a number and one or more variables.
Power
A power has two parts, a base and an exponent.
Variable
A symbol, usually a letter, that represents one or more numbers.
Constant
A term that has no variable factor.
Equivalent expressions
Algebraic expressions that have the same value for all values of the variable(s).
Radical
An expression made up of a radical symbol and a radicand.
Distributive property
For every real number a, b, and c: a(b + c) = ab + ac (b + c)a = ba + ca a(b - c) = ab - ac (b - c)a = ba - ca
Perfect squares
Numbers whose square roots are integers.
Like terms
Terms with exactly the same variable factors in a variable expression.
Coefficient
The numerical factor when a term has a variable.
Additive Inverse
The opposite of either addition or subtraction
Multiplicative Inverse
The opposite of either multiplication or division
Inverse
opposite
