Back to Previous Page Glossary of Math Terms

This tells you what all those BIG math words mean

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Absolute Value: The distance a number is from zero. Absolute value can never be negative.
Example: The absolute value of -7 is 7.

Addend: A number to be added in an addition problem
Example: In the problem 7 + 4 = 11, 7 and 4 are addends.

Base: A number multiplied by itself the number of times shown by an exponent.
Example: in the problem 43, 4 is the base number and 3 is the exponent.

Compatible Numbers: Numbers that are near original numbers that are easy to compute without use of a calculator.

Common Denominator: A denominator that is the same in two or more fractions. Common denominators are needed when adding and subtracting fractions.

Customary System Measurement: The measurement system often used in the United States: inches, feet, miles, ounces, pounds, cups, ounces, quarts, gallons, etc.

Denominator: The bottom number of a fraction

Difference: The answer to a subtraction problem

Dividend: The number that is being divided in a division problem.
Example: In the problem 14 ÷ 7 = 2, the dividend is 14.

Divisor: The number that divides the dividend.
Example: In the problem 14 ÷ 7 = 2, the divisor is 7.

Equivalent Fractions: Fractions that represent the same amount.

Estimate: To find an answer that is close to the actual amount.

Exponent: This raised number tells how many times the base number is to be multiplied. Example: in the problem 43, 4 is the base number and 3 is the exponent, meaning 4 x 4 x 4 = 64.

Factor: In a multiplication problem, it is what is multiplied to obtain a product.
Example: In the problem 2 x 3 = 6, the factors are 2 and 3.

Improper Fraction: A fraction in which the numerator is greater than the denominator.

Integers: The set of whole numbers and their opposites.
Example: ...-4, -3, -2, ,1, 0, 1, 2, 3, 4,...

Inverse Operations: Operations that "undo" each other, or are opposites of each other.

Least Common Denominator [LCD]: The least common multiple for two or more denominators.

Lowest Terms: A fraction is said to be in "lowest terms" when the numerator and the denominator have only a common factor of 1. This means no other whole number, except 1, can divide evenly into the top and bottom number of a fraction.

Mixed Number: A whole number and a fraction
Example: 3 1/2 is a Mixed number

Negative numbers: The set of numbers that are less than zero.

Numerator: The top number in a fraction

Opposite Numbers: Numbers that are the same distance from zero on a number line.
Example: 4 and -4 are opposites as each is 4 spaces away from 0 on a number line.

Order of Operations: A rule telling in what order a series of operations should be completed.
  1. Parentheses first
  2. Exponents second
  3. Multiply and Divide from left to right
  4. Add and subtract left to right

Percent: A ratio comparing a number to 100.
Example: 35% means 35/100.

Positive Numbers: The set of numbers greater than zero.

Product: The answer to a multiplication problem
Example: In the problem, 4 x 5 = 20, the product is 20.

Reciprocals: Two numbers whose product is 1.
Example: 2/3 and 3/2 are reciprocals.

Quotient: The answer to a division problem.

Simplify: When used with fractions, simplify means to express the fraction in lowest terms.

Sum: The answer to an addition problem

Whole Number: A number in the set [0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5,...]

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