Mathematical Terms and Definitions

Here is our glossary of mathematical terms and definitions. If there's a widget sign (), then there's an interactive game or widget on the page.

A

acute angle ()
adding fractions
addition basics
addition (long addition) ()
addition rule (probability)
addition rule (on tree diagrams)
adjacent
algebra (expressions)
algebra (terms)
algebra (like terms)
algebra (how to add letters)
algebra (how to subtract letters)
algebra (how to multiply letters)
algebra (how to divide letters)
algebra (how to add terms)
algebra (how to subtract terms)
algebra (how to multiply terms)
algebra (how to divide terms)
algebra (how to expand brackets)
algebra (expanding single brackets using the grid method)
algebra (how to expand double brackets)
algebra (expanding double brackets using the grid method)
algebra (factors)
algebra (greatest common factor)
algebra (factoring an expressions)
algebra (how to collect like terms)
algebra (how to identify like terms)
algebra (how to add like terms)
algebra (how to subtract like terms)
algebraic fractions
algebraic fractions (adding algebraic fractions)
algebraic fractions (subtracting algebraic fractions)
algebraic fractions (multiplying algebraic fractions)
algebraic fractions (dividing algebraic fractions)
algebraic fractions (simplifying algebraic fractions)
algebraic fractions (power of algebraic fractions)
algebraic fractions (reciprocal of algebraic fractions)
algebra (multiplying expressions)
angles ()
angles (degrees)
angles (radians)
angles (types of) ()
angles (acute angle) ()
angles (right angle)
angles (obtuse angle) ()
angles (straight angle)
angles (reflex angle) ()
angles (full angle)
angles (complementary angle)
angles (explementary angles)
angles (supplementary angle)
angles (radians)
angles (finding the sum of the interior angles of a polygon)
angles (finding the interior angle of a regular polygon)
angles (exterior angles of a polygon)
angles (finding the exterior angle of a regular polygon)
angles (sum of interior and exterior angle equals 180 degrees)
angular coordinate

Archimedes
(famous mathematician)

area (of a circle) ()
area (of a circle using diameter)
area (of a sector of a circle)
area (of a sector of a circle in radians)
area (of an ellipse) ()
area (of a parallelogram) ()
area (of a trapezoid) ()
area (of a triangle) ()
area (of a triangle using trigonometry)
area (of a rectangle) ()
area (of a square) ()
arithmetic (fundamental theorem of)
arithmetic mean
arithmetic with even and odd numbers
arithmetic with negative numbers
average (explained) ()
average (mean) ()
average (mode) ()
average (median) ()

B

bar chart (explained)
bar chart (how to create)
bar chart (how to read from)
bar charts (types of data)
bases
BODMAS

C

Cartesian coordinates ()
Cartesian coordinates (draw a point)
Cartesian coordinates (read off a point)
Cartesian cooordinates (converting Cartesian to polar coordinates)
Cartesian coordinates (coverting to Cartesian from polar)
circles
circles (finding the area of)
circles (circumference of a circle)
circles (circle theorems)
circles (circle theorem: tangent radius 90 degrees)
circles (circle theorem: two radii make an isosceles triangle)
circles (circle theorem: perpendicular bisector of a chord passes through center)
circles(circle theorem: angle at center twice at circumference)
circles (circle theorem: angle in semicircle 90 degrees)
circles (circle theorem: angles in same segment are equal)
circles (circle theorem: opposite angles in a cyclic quadrilateral add up to 180 degrees)
circles (circle theorem: tangents from same point equal)
circles (circle theorem: angle in alternate segment is equal)
circles (area of a sector of a cirle)
circles (area of a sector of a circle in radians)
circles (length of an arc)
circles (length of an arc in radians)
circles (basic equation of a circle)
circles (equation of a circle)
circles (equation of a circle in general form)
circles (finding center and radius from equation)
circumference
circumference of a circle
circumference of a circle (using radius)
coefficients
composite numbers ()
composite function
composite function (finding a)
composite function (evaluating a)
complementary event
completing the square (introduction)
completing the square (how to complete the square)
cone (finding the volume of) ()
constants
continuous data
converting percentages to decimals
converting percentages to fractions
converting mixed fractions to improper fractions
converting improper fractions to mixed fractions
coordinates (Cartesian)
coordinates (polar)
cosine function
cube (finding the volume of) ()
cumulative frequency table (explained)
cumulative frequency table (how to make)
cumulative grouped frequency table (explained)
cumulative grouped frequency table (how to make)
cylinder (finding the volume of) ()

D

data (explained)
data (continuous)
data (discrete)
data (qualitative)
data (quantitative)
data (types of)
degrees
denominator

Descartes, Rene
(famous mathematician)

dependent event
dependent event (on tree diagrams)
diameter
diameter (finding from the radius)
diameter (finding from the circumference)
diameter (finding from the area)
difference of squares
discrete data
distance formula
dividing fractions
division basics
division (long division) ()
division (long division with remainder)
division (long division with decimals)

E

ellipses
ellipse (finding the area of)
engineering notation
engineering notation (convert to)
engineering notation (convert number less than 1 to)
engineering notation (convert from)
engineering notation (convert from when negative number)
enlargement
enlargement (how to enlarge a shape)
enlargement (fractional scale factor)
enlargement (negative scale factor)
enlargement (describing an enlargement)
enlargement (describing an enlargement with negative scale factor)
equivalent fractions
equations (what are equations?)
equations (linear) (explained) ( )
equations (linear, general form)
equations (linear, slope point form)
equations (quadratic) (explained) ( )
equations (simultaneous) (definition)
equations (simultaneous) (methods for solving)
equations (simultaneous) (using elimination)
equations (simultaneous) (using elimination where coefficients differ)
equations (simultaneous) (using substitution)
equations (simultaneous) (using a graph)
equations (solve equations with brackets)
equations (solve equations with two sets of brackets)
equilateral triangles

Euclid
(famous mathematician)

even numbers ()
exponents
exponent (exponent of −1)
exponent (exponent of −1 in algebra)
exponents (laws of)
exponents in algebra (laws of)
exponents (finding negative exponents)
exponents (finding negative exponents in algebra)
exponents (finding a power of a power)
exponents (finding a power of a power in algebra)
exponents (finding a power of a product)
exponents (finding a power of a product in algebra)
exponents (finding a power of a fraction)
exponents (finding a power of an algebraic fraction)
expressions

F

factor
factors (finding)
factors (algebra)
factors (finding in algebra)
factor (greatest common)
famous mathematicians (Euclid)
famous mathematicians (Pythagoras)
famous mathematicians (Rene Descartes)
famous mathematicians (Archimedes)

Fibonacci
(famous mathematician)

FOIL method
fractions (overview)
fractions (adding fractions)
fractions (equivalent fractions)
fractions (subtracting fractions)
fractions (multiplying fractions)
fractions (dividing fractions)
fractions (simplifying fractions)
fractions (converting fractions to a decimal)
fractions (converting fractions to a decimal)
fractions (converting fractions to a percentage)
fractions (converting fractions to a decimal or a percentage)
fractions (converting mixed fractions to improper fractions)
fractions (converting improper fractions to mixed fractions)
fractions (denominator)
fractions (expressing one number as a fraction of another)
fractions (finding the fraction of a number)
fractions (finding the reciprocal of a fraction)
fractions (proper)
fractions (improper)
fractions (mixed)
fractions (numerator)
frequency table (explained)
frequency table (how to make)
frequency table (finding the mean)
frequency table (finding the median)
frequency table (finding the mode)
frequency table (finding the range)
function (what is a function?)
function (evaluating a)
function (composite function)
function (inverse function)
function (finding the inverse of a function)
function (finding the inverse of a function using a graph)

G

geometry
geometry (polygons)
geometry (interior angles of polygons)
geometry (triangles)
geometry (types of triangles) ()
geometry (equilateral triangles) ()
geometry (isosceles triangles) ()
geometry (scalene triangles) ()
geometry (interior angles of a triangle)
geometry (finding a missing angle in a triangle)
geometry (circles)
geometry (circumference of a circle)
geometry (circle theorems)
geometry (circle theorem: tangent radius 90 degrees)
geometry (circle theorem: two radii make an isosceles triangle)
geometry (circle theorem: perpendicular bisector of a chord passes through center)
geometry (circle theorem: angle at center twice at circumference)
geometry (circle theorem: angle in semicircle 90 degrees)
geometry (circle theorem: angles in same segment are equal)
geometry (circle theorem: opposite angles in a cyclic quadrilateral add up to 180 degrees)
geometry (circle theorem: tangents from same point equal)
geometry (circle theorem: angle in alternate segment is equal)
graphs (the parts of a graph)
graphs (bar charts and line graphs) ( interactive widget)
graphs (create a pie chart) ( interactive widget)
graphs (Cartesian coordinates)
graphs (polar coordinates)
graphs (coverting Cartesian coordinates to polar coordinates)
graphs (coverting polar coordinates to Cartesian coordinates)
greatest common factor
greatest common factor (finding the)
greatest common factor (algebra)
greatest common factor (finding in algebra)
gruped frequency table (explained)
grouped frequency table (finding the mean)
grouped frequency table (finding the median group)
grouped frequency table (finding the mode group)
grouped frequency table (how to make)

H

I

improper fractions
integers
interquartile range (explained)
interquartile range (finding the)
inverse function
inverse function (finding the inverse of a function)
inverse function (finding the inverse of a function using a graph)
inverse operations
isosceles triangles
isosceles triangles (finding a missing angle)

J

What? Nothing in Mathematics starts with a J.
Unbelievable!

K

Al-Khwarizmi
(famous mathematician)

L

least common multiple
least common multiple (finding the)
linear equations ()
linear equations (general form)
Linear equations (slope intercept form)
Linear equations (slope point form)
linear equations (finding the y-intercept)
linear equation (between two points)
linear equations (calculating the slope)
long addition ()
long division ()
long division with remainder
long division with decimals
long multiplication ()
long multiplication with decimals
long subtraction ()
lower quartile

M

mean (explained)
mean (finding the)
median (explained)
median (finding the)
midpoint formula ( )
mixed fractions
mode (explained)
mode (finding the)
multiple
multiple (least common)
multiplication basics
multiplication (long multiplication) ( )
multiplication (long multiplication with decimals)
multiplication rule (probability)
multiplication rule (on tree diagrams)
multiplying fractions

N

natural numbers
negative numbers
negative numbers and arithmetic

Isaac_Newton
(famous mathematician)

number line
number line (for addition)
number line (for subtraction)
numbers (even numbers) ()
numbers (odd numbers) ()
numbers (natural numbers)
numbers (whole numbers)
numbers (integers) ()
numbers (prime numbers) ()
numbers (square numbers)
numerator

O

obtuse angle ( )
odd numbers ( )
operations
opposite
order of operations
origin

P

parallelograms
parallelogram (finding the area of)
pi
pie chart ( interactive widget)
percentages ()
percentage changes
percentages (converting percentages to decimals)
percentage (converting percentages to fractions)
percentages (how to express one number as a percentage of another)
percentages (finding a percentage change)
percentages (finding the percentage of a number)
perfect square trinomials
place value
polar coordinates
polar coordinates (draw a point)
polar coordinates (read off a point)
polar coordinates (converting from Cartesian coordinates)
polar coordinates (coverting to Cartesian from polar)
polygons (geometry)
positive numbers
powers
powers (base)
powers (exponent)
powers (how to multiply powers)
powers (how to multiply powers in algebra)
powers (how to divide powers)
powers (how to divide powers in algebra)
powers of 10
prime numbers ()
probability (what is probability)
probability (finding a probability)
probability (addition rule)
probability (multiplication rule)
probability (complementary event)
probability (dependent event)
probability (independent event)
probability (mutually exclusive event)
probability (tree diagram explained)
probability (how to draw a tree diagram)
probability (multiplication rule on tree diagrams)
probability (addition rule on tree diagrams)
probability (dependent events on tree diagrams)
proper fractions

Pythagoras
(famous mathematician)

Pythagoras' theorem ()
Pythagoras' theorem (finding the hypotenuse)
Pythagoras' theorem (finding a shorter side)

Q

quadratic equations (what are quadratic equations?) ()
quadratic equations (how to solve)
quadratic equations (solve using factoring)
quadratic equations (solve using factoring when a ≠ 1)
quadratic equations (solve using a graph)
quadratic equations (solve using the quadratic formula)
quadratic equations (solve using a difference of squares)
qualitative data
quantitative data
quartile (explained)
quartile (lower)
quartile (methods for finding)
quartile (upper)

R

radial coordinate
radians
radius
radius (finding the radius from the area)
radius (finding the radius from the diameter)
radius (finding the radius from the circumference)
range (explained)
range (finding the)
reciprocals
reciprocals (of a fraction)
reciprocals (of an algebraic fraction)
rectangles
rectangle (finding the area of) ()
reflection
reflection (common reflections)
reflection (how to reflect a shape)
reflection (describing a reflection)
reflection (reflect a shape in x-axis using cartesian coordinates)
reflection (reflect a shape in y-axis using cartesian coordinates)
reflection (reflect a shape in y=x using cartesian coordinates)
reflection (reflect a shape in y=-x using cartesian coordinates)
reflex angle ()
right angle
right triangle
right triangle (adjacent)
right triangle (hypotenuse)
right triangle (opposite)
rotation
rotation (common rotations)
rotation (how to rotate a shape)
rotation (describing a rotation)
rounding numbers ()

S

scale factor
scientific notation
scientific notation (convert to)
scientific notation (convert number less than 1 to)
scientific notation (convert from)
scientific notation (convert from when negative number)
simplifying fractions
simultaneous equations (what are simultaneous equations)
simultaneous equations (methods for solving)
simultaneous equations (using elimination)
simultaneous equations (using elimination where coefficients differ)
simultaneous equations (using substitution)
simultaneous equations (using a graph)
slope
slope (finding from linear equation)
slope (finding from linear equation in general form)
slope (finding from linear equation in slope-point form)
sine function
slope (finding the slope of a line) ()
slope (finding the slope between two points)
sphere (finding the volume of) ()
straight angle
squares
square numbers
square root
square (finding the area of)
subtraction basics
subtraction (long subtraction) ()
subtracting fractions

T

terms
transformations
translation
translation (how to translate a shape)
translation (describing a translation)
translation (how to translate a shape in Cartesian coordinates)
trapezoids
trapezoid (finding the area of) ()
triangles
triangle (finding the area of) ()
triangle (types of) ()
triangles (equilateral triangles) ()
triangles (isosceles triangles) ()
triangles (scalene triangles) ()
triangles (interior angles of a triangle)
triangles (finding a missing angle in a triangle)
triangles (finding a missing angle in an isosceles triangle)
trigonometry (cosine function) ()
trigonometry (sine function) ()
trigonometry (tangent function) ()
trigonometry (using the sine function to find the opposite)
trigonometry (using the sine function to find the hypotenuse)
trigonometry (using the sine function to find the angle)
trigonometry (using the cosine function to find the adjacent)
trigonometry (using the cosine function to find the hypotenuse)
trigonometry (using the cosine function to find the angle)
trigonometry (using the tangent function to find the opposite)
trigonometry (using the tangent function to find the adjacent)
trigonometry (using the tangent function to find the angle)
trigonometry (finding the area of a triangle using trigonometry)
types of angles ()
types of data
types of triangles ()
types of whole numbers

U

V

variables
volume of a cone ()
volume of a cube ()
volume of a cylinder ()
volume of a sphere ()

W

x-axis (explained)
x-coordinate (explained)
x-intercept (of a function)

Y

y-axis (explained)
y-coordinate (explained)
y-intercept
y-intercept (finding the) ( )
y-intercept (finding from linear equation) ( )
y-intercept (finding from linear equation in general form)
y-intercept (finding from linear equation in slope point form)
y-intercept (of a function)

Z

This page was written by Stephen Clarke.