Appendix F - Glossary
(A-E)

absolute-value

A positive number that has the same magnitude as a given number.

absolute-value function

A positive number that has the same magnitude as a given number: f (x) = |x |

acute angle

An angle whose measure is between 0° and 90°.

algorithm

A step-by-step procedure for solving a problem.

alternate interior angles

A transversal cutting across two or more parallel lines forms equal angles on opposite sides of the transversal and between the parallel lines.

altitude

A line segment giving the height of a polygon, polyhedron, cone, cylinder, or other geometric figure.

ambiguous case

A case in the solution of triangles in which the known values can give two possible solutions or not solution.

amplitude

The maximum displacement from a reference level in either a positive or negative direction.

analytic geometry or coordinate geometry

A form of geometry in which lines, curves, and other shapes are represented by equations indicating their position in a coordinate system.

angle

A figure formed by two rays or two line segments with a common endpoint (vertex).

angle bisector

A line that divides an angle into two equal parts.

arc

A continuous part of a curve or circle.

arithmetic operation

Addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division.

arithmetic sequence

A sequence in which each term (except the first) differs from the previous one by a constant amount, the common difference:

t _n= a+(n - 1)d = general term
a = first term
d = common difference
n = number of terms

arithmetic series

The sum of the terms in an arithmetic sequence.

asymptote

A line related to a given curve such that the distance from the line to a point on the curve approaches zero as the distance of the point from an origin increases without bound.

axis of symmetry

A line associated with a geometric figure such that every point on one side of the line has a corresponding point on the other side.

bar graph

A graph using parallel bars (vertical or horizontal) which are proportional lengths to represent data.

base

Number used as the factor for repeated multiplication. For example:
4⁷: base is 4

bisect

To divide into two equal parts.

broken-line graph

A graph using line segments to join the plotted points to represent data.

Cartesian (rectangular) coordinate system

A coordinate system in which the position of a point is determined by its distance from reference lines (axes).

central angle

An angle in a circle between two radii.

chord

A straight-line segment joining any two points on a curve or surface.

circumference

The perimeter of a circle.

circumscribed

A relationship in which one figure encloses another as in a polygon circumscribed by a circle.

cluster

A number of similar items (points) grouped closely together on a graph.

coefficient

A numerical or constant multiplier of the variable in an algebraic term. For example:
4x : coefficient is 4

collinear

Lying on the same line.

combination

The number of selections of r different items from n distinguishable items when the order of selection is ignored.

combination data

Data that consist of both first-hand and second-hand data.

common factor (CF)

A number that is a factor of two or more numbers. For example:

3 is a common factor of 6 and 12

common fraction

A number that describes part of a whole or part of a group and is expressed as a ratio, with the numerator and denominator both being integers. For example:

compass (pair of)

An instrument for drawing circles or arcs.

complementary angles

Two angles whose sum is 90°.

completing the square

A method of solving quadratic equations by replacing a quardratic expression with a form in which the variable appears only in a squared term.

complex fraction

A fraction in which the numerator or the denominator, or both, are contain fractions.

composite number

A number that has two or more prime factors. For example:

12 = 2 x 2 x 3

compound interest

Calculated by adding the interest to the principal and calculating the interest at the end of agreed conversion periods.

cone

A 3-D object generated by rotating a right triangle about one of its legs.

confidence interval(s)

An interval that is believed, with a preassigned degree of confidence, to include the particular value of some parameter being estimated.

congruent

Having identical shape and size

constant

A fixed quantity or numerical value.

converse (of a theorem)

A theorem obtained by interchanging the premise and conclusion of a given theorem.

coordinates

A set of numbers that uniquely

corresponding angles and corresponding sides

Angles or sides that have the same relative position in geometric figures.

cosine law (law of cosines)

A formula used for solving triangles in plane geometry.

cosine (function)

See primary trigonomic functions.

coterminal angles

Angles that are rotations between the same two lines, termed the initial and terminal arms. For example:

20°, -340°, 380° are coterminal angles

cube

Polyhedron with six identical square faces.

cyclic (inscribed) quadrilateral

A quadrilateral circumscribed by a circle so that all its vertices lie on the circumference of the circle.

cylinder

A 3-D object with two conguent circular bases that is obtained by rotating a rectangle about one of its sides.

decimal fraction

A fraction expressed in decimal notation. For example: expressed as a decimal fraction is 0.25

deductive reasoning

A valid argument in which the conclusion follows from the premises.

degree

The degree of an equation or polynomial is derived from the term of the highest degree. For example: y=mx+y is of degree 1, while y=x² and x=2xy+y=0 are degree 2.

diagonal

Line segment joining two non-adjacent vertices in a polygon or two vertices of a polyhedron not on the same surface.

diameter

A chord that passes through the centre of a circle.

difference of squares

A polynomial expression of the form x² - y² that can be factored into conjugate factors: ( x - y)( x + y)

distance formula

The formula used in coordinate geometry to find the distance between two points. For example:

domain

The set of values that can be assumed by the independent variable of a function. Usually the x -values of a function.

double bar graph

A bar graph that uses bars to represent two sets of data visually.

edge

The straight line that is formed where two faces of a polyhedron meet.

equation

A statement that two mathematical expressions are equal, such as:

3x + y = 7

equidistant

Having equal distances from some specified object, point, or line.

estimate

To approximate the value or size of something, for example, objects, area, volume, or total.

Euclidean geometry

Geometry based on the definitions and axioms set out in Euclid's Elements.

event

A subset of the sample space of all possible outcomes of an experiment.

experimental probability

The numerical measure of what actually happens in an experiment; actual outcomes ÷ possible outcomes.

exponent

The raised number used as a power to indicate the number of repeated multiplications of the base. For example:
3⁴: exponent is 4

exponential function

A function of the form f (x) = a ^x having variables expressed as exponents.

exterior angles on the same side of the transversal

A transversal of two parallel lines forms two supplementary exterior angles.

extraneous root

A number obtained when solving an equation, which is not a root of the equation to be solved.

extrapolate

To estimate a value by following a pattern and going beyond values already known.

extreme values

The highest and lowest numbers in a set.

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