a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z
absolute value- The distance from zero. A number which has no sign.
abundant number - any number whose sum of its factors, excluding itself, is greater than itself.
acute angle - An angle which measures less than 90 degrees.
addend - the number to be added.
Addition Property - The rule stating that adding equals (of any value) to both sides of an equation or inequality will not change the relationship.
additive inverse - The opposite number on the number line which when added to a given number sums to 0.
adjacent angle - an angle which shares a common ray (or side) to the angle given.
adjacent side - the ray or side of an angle. In a right triangle, that side is called a leg. When one side is adjacent to another side they are both sides of the same angle.
algorithm - a procedure or set of rules which when applied in steps will result in the solution to a type of mathematical problem.
alternate
exterior angles
- A special angle pair formed by a transversal
cutting
two parallel lines; the angles appear on opposite sides of the
transversal and outside the parallel lines. They are congruent.
Picture
alternate
interior angles
- A special angle pair formed by a transversal
cutting two parallel lines; the angles appear on opposite sides of
the transversal and inside the parallel lines. They are congruent.
Picture
altitude of a triangle - A line segment which attaches the vertex or top angle to the base by forming right angles. In an obtuse triangle, the altitude must be drawn to the base, as extended. An altitude of a triangle is, by definition a perpendicular line segment. The altitude measures the height of a triangle. In a right triangle, the altitude is one of the legs. When a triangle is rotated the altitude changes, as does the base and vertex angle.
angle - Two rays which share a common endpoint will form an angle. Types of angles: Acute angle: less than 90 degrees. Obtuse angle: greater than 90 degrees, but less than 180 degrees. Right angle: measures 90 degrees. Straight angle: measures 180 degrees. Reflex angle: measures more than 180 degrees. Rotating a radius within a circle will map out all of these angles as the radius travels through a distance of 360 degrees from its initial starting point. A central angle is the angle formed by any two radii in a circle. Picture.
angle bisector - A ray drawn from the vertex of an angle through the center which will subdivide the angle into two congruent angles.
angle pairs - Related angles in sets of two. There are several kinds of angle pairs with which you should be familiar: Complementary angles total to 90 degrees. Supplementary angles total to 180 degrees. Corresponding angles are formed by a transversal which will cut two parallel lines. These angles are on the same side of the transversal. In this case one angle is a translation type of transformation or "slide" of the other. Corresponding angles are congruent. Vertical angles are formed by the intersection of two lines. They lie opposite each other at the point of intersection. Vertical angles are also congruent. Congruent angles are angles which have the same measure in degrees. Picture
arc
- A part of the circle measured in the same number of degrees as the
angle formed by two radii attached to the endpoints of the arc.
Picture
area - The amount of space, or the region within a two-dimensional, closed figure. It is measured in square units.
Some common formulas for area are:
Area of a parallelogram, rectangle, rhombus or square: A= BH
Area of a square: A=s2
Area of a trapezoid: A= 1/2H(b1 +b2)
Area of a circle: A=pr2
Area of a triangle: A=1/2bh
arithmetic sequence - A special sequence where a constant is added to or subtracted from numbers in the sequence to arrive at the next consecutive number. Example.
Associative Property for addition or multiplication - A truism that states that the way addends or factors (the numbers in the addition or multiplication problem) are grouped or regrouped will not change the sum or product so long as only addition or multiplication is used singularly on the entire set of numbers. The associative property applies to all real numbers including signed numbers, but it cannot be used for subtraction or division problems.
average - Also known as the the arithmetic average or mean. The average of an ordered range of numbers tends to be in the middle of the group of numbers. It is therefore also known as a central tendency. Other measures of central tendency are the median and the mode. The arithmetic average or mean is arrived at by taking the sum of the numbers in the set and dividing by the number of items in that set.
average deviation - A statistic which measures how much the average of all the absolute values of the differences between measurements and the mean compares to the actual mean.
axes - x and y. In the coordinate system the perpendicular lines drawn through the origin. Singularly, they are referred to as the x and y axis. See also origin. Picture.
base - 1. A side of a geometric figure which lies flat on the bottom of the figure. In a two-dimensional shape, the location of the base is arbitrary, but in three-dimensional space figures, usually the base is a specific shape which lies parallel to a plane of reference. Some figures have two parallel bases. Picture
2. In a numeration system the base tells us, in terms of place value, how many times greater each value to the left is in terms of the place value to the right. The place value is multiplied by the digit to find its value. In our base 10 system every place value to the left is 10 times as great as the place value to the right. Alternately, we can find the value of any digit by multiplying the digit shown by the base raised to the power of the exponent related to the place value. The number 101 in base 2 would mean 1 x 22 + 0 x 21 + 1 x 20.
3. In a shortcut system of denoting repeated multiplication of the same number, the number which is being multiplied. See also exponent.
bias - Influence on results. A biased sample is not fair.
binary operation - A logical operation between two numbers which will result in one answer. The operation may be complex. Max which finds the maximum number between two numbers is an example of a binary operation.
binary system - A number system depending on base 2.
bisect - To divide evenly into two congruent parts.
bisector - A line or ray which acts to bisect a figure.
box and whisker graph (plot)- A special graph which pictorially shows the median, upper and lower quartiles, and extreme points of a distribution. Picture
capacity - The measure of how much can be held within a container.
cardinal number - A count of items in a set.
Cartesian coordinate - One of the values in an ordered pair of numbers on a two dimensional grid.
Cartesian coordinate graph - The grid which measures locations of points as an ordered (x,y) pair. The values in the pair are each called coordinates.
central angle - In a circle the angle at the center representing a portion of the circle set off by two radii. Picture
chance- 1. The possibility or likelihood of an event occurring, strictly by luck. 2. An opportunity which has an unknown likelihood of success.
chord - A line segment which connects any two points on a circle. A diameter is the largest chord in a circle. Picture
circle - A set of points mapping out a closed curve around a fixed point which is the center, all equidistant from that point.
circumference - The distance along the circle from a given point back to the same point. Circumference in a circle is similar to the perimeter of a polygon. Picture
circumscribe - To place figure A around figure B so that the vertices of figure B touch the sides of figure A. A polygon may be circumscribed about a circle so that the sides touch upon the circle. Examples
closed figure - A set of points in two dimensional space which, either straight or curved, will end where they begin and enclose a region or regions. A simple closed curve only has one region - the line drawn does not intersect at any point. Examples
closure property - The rule that states that for a given operation on a set of numbers the result of the operation will yield a number which is in the original set. For instance, multiplication of all real numbers is closed since the result will always be a real number, but division of integers is not closed since some results are fractional and not integers.
cluster - An imaginary grouping of close ordered pairs on a grid which makes them appear to be more compact than pairs outside the cluster. Picture
coefficient - A number placed before a letter or letters in an algebraic expression which will be multiplied by the numbers represented by the letters or powers of the letters which follow. In the expression 4X2, 4 is the coefficient.
coincide - To follow the same route or path. Two lines coincide when they have an unlimited number of points of intersection.
collinear - Being on the same line.
combination - A special arrangement where no repeats are allowed for all possible arrangements. A repeat is a choice of the same items in a different order. The notation used for combinations is: nCr , for n objects chosen r at a time.
commission - A kind of wage earned on sales pegged to the amount of the sales, usually in the form of a percent.
common denominator - When a smaller unit fractional part which can divide evenly a group of related fractions is identified, the lower portion of that fractional part. Since 1/3 and 1/4 can both be broken up into slices of 1/12, 12 is the common denominator.
common factor - a number which will divide evenly all the numbers in a set. All whole numbers have the common factor of 1. Another common factor between 12 and 8 is 4.
common multiple - Given separate listings of all the multiples of a set of numbers, those which are the same on each of the listings are known as common multiples. The least common multiple is the smallest number which is evident on all the listings. Common multiples for 3 and 4 would be 12, 24, 36, etc., but the least common multiple between 3 and 4 is 12.
Commutative Property - The truism that states that the order of a group of numbers which have the same operation, either addition or multiplication, will not change the result. Division or subtraction is not commutative. For instance: a + b = b + a; ab=ba. Also: If a + b +c = a constant, then a+c + b also equals the same constant.
compass - 1. A tool used for drawing arcs or circles. 2. A navigational tool which shows direction on a map. Picture
compatible numbers - Numbers which will divide more easily. We use rounding to create compatible numbers.
complementary angles - An angle pair totaling to 90 degrees.
complex fraction - A fraction which has more than one denominator. When we divide a whole number by a fraction, a fraction by a fraction or a fraction by a whole number, the full operation shown as a fraction is considered complex.
composite number - A number which has more factors (whole number divisors) than itself and one.
concave polygon - A polygon which has an angle or angles which are greater than 180 degrees. Parts of the figure appear to point inward toward the center. Diagonals drawn may be outside the figure. Picture
cone - A solid figure which has a base as a circle and a curved surface tapering to one fixed point or vertex. A polyhedron with only one flat surface or face. Picture
congruent - Exactly equal. Having the same size and shape. Congruent shapes have equal measures. There exists congruent line segments, angles, polygons, geometric shapes, and other objects or pictures. Picture
congruent angles - Angles which have the same measure.
constant - A letter within an expression, equation or inequality which can take on one value only, the value of which will be ultimately known. Since constants are represented by letters, they are often confused with variables.
conversion - The act of changing a value to an equivalent form. Conversion ratios are ratios of equal numbers and components which can be used to multiply a value to achieve an equivalent value. For instance, since 1 foot = 12 inches, the conversion ratio 1foot/12inches can be used to multiply by any number of inches to change them to feet. Conversely, 12inches/1foot can be used to change feet to inches. The measurement to be converted must appear in the denominator.
convex polygon - A polygon which has all interior angles less than 180 degrees. The sides and vertices of the figure appear to point away from the center. Picture
coordinate graph - See Cartesian coordinate graph.
coordinate plane - The surface on which a grid is drawn with vertical and horizontal axes known as the x and y axes. The points within the grid are ordered pairs. See also Cartesian coordinate. Picture
coordinates - The ordered pair of numbers which represent a location on an x-y grid. (4,3) are coordinates. Though each of the numbers in the parentheses are known as coordinates, the first number is the abscissa and the second number is the ordinate. See Cartesian coordinate. Picture
coplanar - Lying in the same plane.
corresponding angles - 1. An angle pair formed by cutting two parallel lines with a third intersecting line known as the transversal. These angles are on the same side of the transversal. In this case one angle is a translation type of transformation or "slide" of the other. Picture Corresponding angles are congruent. 2. When comparing two polygons, the matched angles which are exact copies from one to another of the polygons. Picture
corresponding part - A matched part of a congruent figure, either angle or side. Corresponding parts of congruent figures are congruent.
corresponding sides - Matched sides in polygons which are congruent. These can be found between two corresponding angles.
cosine - One of the trigonometric functions describing an angle in a right triangle, which is a ratio of the measure of the side adjacent to the given angle compared to the measure of the hypotenuse. Picture
counting number - One of the members of the set starting with the number one and increasing in value by 1 in order. This set is infinitely large.
cross products - In a proportion, the product of any number on the top and any number on the bottom. Since cross products in a proportion are equivalent, we can use the cross products to prove that two ratios are equal and form a proportion.
cross section - The face of a solid which has been cut by a plane. Picture
cube - 1. The cube of a number is the number multiplied by itself and itself again. 2. A three dimensional shape in the form of a box with 6 equal flat faces in the form of squares. Picture
curve - A finite set of points moving in a changing direction. Picture
customary measurement - Units of measurement in the English System commonly used in the United States such as feet, pounds, miles, and ounces. Link to FunSchool Customary Measurement Dictionary.
cylinder - A polyhedron with two congruent parallel bases in the form of circles and a curved surface which is perpendicular to both bases. Picture
data - Pieces of information or numbers.
decagon - A 10 sided polygon. Picture
decimal - A number arrived at by dividing a whole numbers by powers of ten.
decimal System - A base 10 system in which every cardinal number shown in a place value takes on the value of the digit times a power of ten. Starting from the single digit's place which has a value of the digit times 100, the value of each digit to the left is 10 times as great. To the right of that number, each digit has a value 10 times less.
Power
of ten 104 103 102 101 100 10-1 10-2 Place
value ten-thousands thousands hundreds tens ones . tenths hundredths degree
- 1. A part of a circle or circles expressed as some fraction or
multiple of 360 used for measuring angles. 2. A unit used to measure
temperature. denominate
number
- A number used in connection with a unit of measure such as the
number 4 in 4 inches. denominator
- The divisor or bottom part of a fraction. It denotes the total
number of parts available to that fraction. The numerator
indicates
the number of parts used.
deductive
reasoning
- Using known facts and intuitive or proven rules together to reach a
conclusion.
density property - The situation existing whereby, between any two numbers on a number line, another point may be located and defined as another value. There are an unlimited number of values between any two values.
dependent events - In probability, when the outcome of one event influences other concurrent or following events, the events are said to be dependent.
deviation - The amount of volatility in a distribution as measured by the differences between points in the distribution and the mean.
diagonal - A line segment drawn from one vertex of a polygon to a nonadjacent vertex.
Picturediameter - In a circle, a line segment drawn from one point on the circle through the center to a point opposite. There are an unlimited number of diameters which may be drawn in a circle.
Picturedifference - The result arrived at by subtracting one number from another.
digit - A whole number between 0 to 9 used to represent the part value of a larger number. For instance, in the number 49, 4 is a digit in the 10's place. Digits are used to write numerals.
dilation - The transformation process of reducing or enlarging a figure into a similar figure.
Picturedirect variation - If in a relationship between two variables multiplying or dividing by a constant will leave the relationship the same then the numbers are said to be in direct variation. For instance if doubling the number of hours will double the pay then hours and pay are in direct variation. In direct variation the numbers may be shown in equal ratios. (y/x = k, where k is a constant). In indirect variation the numbers behave differently; muliplying one variable will change the other variable in the opposite direction (xy=k).
discount - The amount of reduction in the price of a good or service.
Exampledisjoint set - In comparing the members of two or more sets, those members which are not on more than one listing.
Picturedistance - A measurement of how far one point is from another. In traveling, the distance traveled is always equal to rate x time (d=rt).
distribution - In statistics, the listing of numbers or arrangement of the numbers showing the relative positions of data points, describing the nature of the numbers being studied. The set: {3,5,7,9,10,14,22,36,48,57,80,99} could represent a distribution of numbers.
Distributive Property of multiplication over addition- A truism which states that the total arrived at by multiplying by the addends separately and then adding them is the same as the total arrived at by multiplying by the sum. The regions formed by multiplying can be considered areas. When a rectangle is subdivided, the areas formed by multiplying the parts is the same as the original area. Since subtraction is addition of signed numbers and division can be depicted by multiplying by the reciprocal, the distributive property will also hold for division or addition of signed numbers.
Picture Examplesdividend - The number to be divided.
Picturedivisibility - The ability to divide numbers "evenly" so that there is no remainder.
divisibility rules - Shortcuts for determining (without performing the entire division) whether a given number can be divided by another number without resulting in a remainder. The common rules are as follows:
Number Rule 2 The
number to be divided is even. 3 The sum
of the digits is divisible by 3. You may first subtract
multiples of 9 before testing. You may also first delete
combinations of digits which sum to 9. 4 The
number represented by the last two digits of the larger
number is divisible by 4. 5 The
number ends in 0 or 5. 6 When
testing, the rules for 2 and 3 both apply. 8 The
number represented by the last three digits of the larger
number is divisible by 8. 9 The sum
of the digits is divisible by 9. You may first subtract
multiples of 9 before testing. You may also first delete
combinations of digits which sum to 9. 10 The
last digit is zero. Also when the rules for 2 and 5 jointly
apply. division
- A shortcut method of counting the number of repeated attempts at
subtraction
to reduce a number to zero, or some fractional amount of the original
number (also known as the remainder).
Division Property - The rule stating that dividing both sides of a relationship by the same constant will keep the relationship intact. Though the Division Property clearly applies to equations, dividing inequalities by negative numbers reverses the relationship. Therefore, the division property doesn't really apply to inequalities, but must be modified for use by inequalities.
Exampledivisor - In a division problem, the number which is being repeatedly subtracted from the number being divided. A factor of a number.
Picturedodecahedron - A polyhedron that has twelve congruent faces in the form of pentagons.
Picturedomain - The set of items associated with one of the parts of a function or relation. The domain set normally applies to the values available to the first, independent variable. Example: In the relation {(4,3), (2,4), (3,8)} the numbers 4,2, and 3 are part of the domain.
edge - The line segment where two faces of a polyhedron meet.
Pictureelements - Members of a set.
empirical probability - A probability arrived at by comparing the outcomes in an experiment with all the possible outcomes in a sample or population. See also experimental probability.
empty set - Also known as the null set. A set which has no elements. Example: N={ }
endpoint - The final point which is visible on a line segment or ray. Note that a line segment has two endpoints while a ray only has one.
equation - A true statement which states that two quantities (expressions) will have the same value. The quantities which may be in the form of any combination of numbers, variables and/or powers are joined by an equal sign. An equation acts as a "balanced scale" where measuring the quantities on both sides of an equal sign on a scale, would result in the scale adjusting to equal heights.
equilateral - Having all equal sides. Polygons are equilateral when all of the sides have equal measures.
equivalent expressions - Expressions which, when evaluated using the same substitutions, have the same value.
equivalent fractions - Fractions which have the same value or can be depicted by the same size region based on the same size whole.
Pictureequivalent numbers = Numbers which can be converted, but not changed in value, to make them equal.
equivalent ratios - Ratios which have the same value. Two equivalent ratios make up a proportion.
equivalent sets - Sets having the same number of elements. The elements need not be exactly the same in each set. Example: {4,5,6} and {2,3,4} are equivalent sets because they both have 3 elements.
estimate - A rough "guess" as to a count or the result of an operation or series of operations. An approximation in a problem.
estimation - The process of a using estimates to arrive at a solution.
Euclidean geometry - The basis of geometry devised by Euclid in his book on The Elements which bases the representation of our universe on certain premises or postulates.
evaluate - Literally, to find the value of an expression by substituting known values for the variables.
even number - One of the members of the set of whole numbers which, when divided by 2, leaves no remainder.
event - 1. An outcome of an experiment or trial. 2. An alternative situation.
expanded notation - The form of a number which shows the place value of each digit as a power function using the base and exponent associated with the place value. The number 567 in expanded notation would be 5 x 102 + 6 x 101 + 7 x 100. Expanded notation differs from scientific notation, because in expanded notation each digit is treated separately in determining its value, while in scientific notation, the value of the entire number is expressed as a multiple of base 10. Sometimes expanded notation is written without using bases or exponents, in which case the number 567 would simply be 500 + 60 + 7.
experimental probability - Also known as empirical probability. Finding a probability by analyzing results of repeated attempts of a situation or experiment. The outcomes may or may not be random. The probability is arrived at by a ratio which compares the number of successful outcomes to the total number of trials (also known as the sample space).
exponent - In the shorthand representation of a repeated number of multiplication of the same number, the number of times that the number is multiplied by itself. The exponent is shown in superscript. In the number 64, 4 is the exponent and 6 is known as the base. The number, if expanded, would be 6 x 6 x 6 x 6.
Exponent Property - The rule which indicates that the result of modifying equivalent parts of an equation by using the same power or root will not change the relationship. Be aware that taking the square root of an equation results in two inverse solutions . Example: if x2 = 16 then x = -4 or +4.
exponential growth - In a graph of a relationship, where the increase of one variable is related by an exponent to the increase of the other. An example of an equation showing exponential growth could be in the form of y = ax2, where a is a constant.
expression - A grouping of numerals, variables and exponents with operations to arrive at one result without indicating how the total value relates to other predefined quantities or expressions. For example, 3X + 7 is an expression. Note that it is not set equal to, greater than, or less than any quantity.
exterior angle - In a polygon, the angle formed on the outside by extending one of the sides.
Pictureextremes - 1. In a proportion, the top left number and the bottom right number.
Picture 2. In an ordered distribution of numbers, the values which are highest and lowest. When points in the distribution are plotted on a scattergram, the extremes may appear as outliers.face - A flat surface area of a solid geometric figure.
Picturefactor - A whole number divisor of a number.
factor tree - A branch type picture which depicts smaller and smaller factors until prime factors are shown at the bottom. Since there are alternate choices to factors chosen on each line, not all of the composite factors of a number may be visible. All composite factors though can be arrived at by multiplying combinations of the prime factors shown.
Examplefactorial - The result of an operation which continually multiplies a number by 1 less until the number multiplied is 1. 4 factorial, denoted by 4! means 4 x 3 x 2 x 1.
fair event - An event that has a likelihood of occurring that is equal to all other possible alternative events.
Fibonacci Sequence - A famous sequence which uses any two consecutive numbers to arrive at the next number in the sequence. The sequence starts with two 1's. {1,1,2,3,5,8,13, 21, etc}
finite Set - A set which contains a known quantity of members or elements.
flip - A common name for a translation which involves reflection. The image is turned over about a given line so that a mirror image appears. In this transformation, the size and shape remain the same. The orientation, though will change.
Pictureformula - A way of symbolically showing an algorithm or procedure using variables.
fraction - A operation of division depicted as one number over another, separated by a bar. A portion of a whole where the denominator indicates the number of parts in the whole and the numerator indicates the number of parts used in the portion.
Examplefractional number - A number which can be shown as a fraction. Note that all decimal numbers are by their nature fractional numbers since they can be changed to fractions.
frequency - The number of times that a number or item appears on a listing of data.
frequency graph - A pictorial representation of various intervals, or specific numbers, and frequencies for the data used. A frequency graph looks like a bar graph, but the bars are connected.
Picturefrequency table - A chart which shows the frequencies for specific numbers or intervals of numbers from a data listing. It is an organized way to group the data, usually arrived at by first tallying like numbers or numbers which appear within the chosen intervals. This can also be used to count the number of times certain events occur.
Picturefront-end rounding - An estimation process by which the digits to the right of a numeral within a number are replaced by zeros. See also rounding.
function - A relationship between two sets of data, one of which is the input data of the independent variable and the other of which is the output data of the dependent variable. A function can be shown as a set of ordered pairs of independent and dependent numbers where the same independent variable may not be linked with two different dependent variables. Example: {(4,3), (-4,3), (4,4)} may be a function, whereas {(4, 3), (4, -3), (4,4)} can't be a function.
functional relationship - A relationship where one variable has a unique link to a second variable.
Geometric sequence - A special sequence where each next number in the sequence is arrived at by multiplying or dividing the preceding number by a constant. Example: {4,20,100,500,2500, etc.}
Geometry - The study of two-dimensional and three-dimensional representations of figures and shapes. It is a method of depicting real-world relationships between points, lines, rays, angles and planes. See link.
Golden Ratio - A relationship discovered by the Greeks expressed as the ratio of 1.61 to 1. This relationship occurs when certain measurements in nature and in architecture are compared. Like Pi, it is considered a geometric constant.
gram - A standard metric measurement unit for a small mass. In measuring mass, it measures "how much" of a substance there is. It does not measure weight, as many people believe, since weight is the effect of gravity acting on mass.
graph - An orderly representation of data in the form of a picture, usually on a grid.
greatest common factor - (see also factor) In listings of the factors of two or more numbers, the largest number to appear on all the lists. In some cases the Greatest Common Factor, also known as GCF, may be one of the smaller numbers for which a factor listing has been compiled. The GCF may be recognized with experience without actually compiling the lists. Example: The GCF of 6, 12 and 18 is 6 since 6 will appear as a factor in a factor listing for 6, 12 and 18 and it will be the biggest number to appear on all three listings. Note that every number has itself as a factor.
grid - A series of parallel horizontal and vertical line segments, equally spaced, which make up equal size squares.
Picturehalf-turn - A rotation of 180 degrees.
Pictureheight - In a geometric figure, the distance as measured by a perpendicular drawn to any of the bases of the figure.
hemisphere - Half of a sphere.
Pictureheptagon - A polygon having 7 sides.
hexagon - A polygon having 6 sides.
histogram - A special bar graph which depicts a frequency distribution.
Picturehorizontal - Lying in a side to side position parallel to the bottom of a given orientation or base line.
hypotenuse - In a right triangle the side which lies opposite the right angle. It is the longest side of a right triangle. If the measure of the other sides, or legs, of the triangle are known, the measure of the hypotenuse can be determined using the Pythagorean Theorem.
Pictureicosahedron - A polyhedron with 20 flat faces in the form of triangles.
Pictureidentity element - That which when added to or multiplied by a number results in the same number. In addition the identity element is 0. In multiplication it is 1. Adding or multiplying by an inverse number will result in an amount equal to the identity element.
Identity Property of 0 or 1. The property that states that adding 0 or multiplying by 1 will result in the same number.
imaginary numbers - A set of numbers which are multiples of negative roots. These numbers have no basis of measurement within Euclidean Geometry.
Examplesimproper fraction - A fraction wherein the numerator is equal to or larger than the denominator. An improper fraction can be changed to a whole or mixed number.
independent events - In probability, two or more events in which the outcome of one in no way influences the outcomes of the others.
indirect measurement - Using formulas and properties to find the measurement of objects without resorting to measuring tools.
indirect or inverse variation - If, in a relationship, multiplying one variable by a constant will result in the other variable being divided by the same constant, then the numbers are in indirect variation. The product of the variables will always equal a constant. For example, the number of hours you watch television may have an inverse affect on your grades. This would be represented where H=hours, and G= grades as HG= k, k being a constant.
inductive reasoning - Expanding upon given facts by interpolation or by forecasting to come to a conclusion.
inequality - A relationship between two expressions or values which are not entirely equal to one another.
Examplesinfinite - Unending. There is no limit. The limit is so small or large so as to be indeterminable.
infinite set - A set of items or numbers which has so many members that they can not be counted or whose number of elements is so large as to be indeterminable.
infinity - A location, number or boundary which has infinite qualities.
input - A number which is associated with the independent variable of a function.
inscribe - To place figure A into figure B so that the vertices of figure A touch upon the sides of figure B. A polygon may be inscribed within a circle, such that the vertices are on the circle. Examples.
integer - A whole number or it's opposite. The set of integers includes all positive counting numbers, the negatives of those numbers and zero.
interest - The cost of money paid for the privilege of waiting to receive the money in return. The amount earned on a loan or deposit. The amount which earns the interest is called the principal.
interior angle - One of the angles within a polygon.
Pictureinterpolation - Extending a model to predict further outcomes.
intersecting lines - Lines in the same plane which cross.
Pictureintersection - The point at which two lines, rays, line segments or planes cross or meet.
intersection of sets - Those elements which are in common to more than one set.
Exampleinterval - 1. The specification of the range of numbers used within a section of a graph. 2. A section of a chart with a range of numbers.
inverse - Additive or multiplicative. The number which when added or multiplied by a given number results in the identity element. Also the operation which is opposite. Subtraction is the inverse operation of addition, while division is the inverse operation of multiplication.
inverse variation - See indirect variation.
irrational number - A number, or symbol standing for a number, which can be changed to a decimal which neither terminates or repeats. Any number which can not be shown as a fraction, whether proper or improper.
Exampleisosceles triangle - A triangle which has two equal (congruent) sides. As a result, the base angles will also be congruent.
Picturekite - A quadrilateral which has two adjacent pairs of sides which are equal. A kite has one line of symmetry.
Picture