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abscissa
The first element in a coordinate pair.
When graphed in the coordinate plane, it
is the distance from the y-axis. Frequently
called the x coordinate.
absolute value
The distance of a number from zero; the
positive value of a number.
acute angle
A positive angle measuring less than 90
degrees.
acute triangle
A triangle with all angles measuring less
than 90 degrees.
addend
A number which is involved in addition.
Numbers being added are considered to be
the addends.
addition
Calculating a sum by adding two or more
numbers.
additive inverse
The additive inverse of any number x is
the number that gives zero when added to
x. Example: the additive inverse of 5 is
-5.
adjacent angles
Two angles that share both a side and a
vertex.
algebra
A branch of mathematics in which variables
are substituted for unknown values to solve
a particular problem.
algorithm
A step-by-step procedure for carrying out
computation.
alternate angles
Two angles that are in opposite locations
when lines are cut by a transversal.
altitude
Length from the uppermost point of a triangle
to the line opposite.
angle
The union of two rays with a common endpoint,
called the vertex.
annulus
The portion of a plane bounded by two concentric
circles in the plane.
approximate
Estimate.
arc
A portion of the circumference of a circle.
area
The number of square units covering a shape
or figure.
arithmetic
Method of computing using addition, subtraction,
multiplication, or division.
arithmetic sequence
A sequence with the difference between two
consecutive terms constant. The difference
is called the common difference.
array
A set of numbers that will follow a specific
pattern. An orderly arrangement often in
rows, columns or a matrix.
associative property
When performing an operation on three or
more numbers, the result is unchanged by
the way the numbers are grouped.
associative property of addition
(a+b)+c=a+(b+c)
associative property of multiplication
(a*b)*c=a*(b*c)
asymptote
On a graph, a line which is approached by
a curve but never reached.
attribute
A characteristic to describe an object usually
within a pattern. The attribute usually
refers to the shape, size, or color.
average
A number that represents the characteristics
of a data set, calculated by adding a group
of numbers then dividing by the number of
elements in that group.
axiom
A basic assumption about a mathematical
system from which theorems can be deduced.
For example, the system could be the points
and lines in the plane. Then an axiom would
be that given any two distinct points in
the plane, there is a unique line through
them.
axis
The horizontal and vertical lines that form
the quadrants of the coordinate plane. The
horizontal axis is usually called the x-axis,
the vertical axis is usually called the
y-axis.
axis of symmetry
A line that passes through a figure in such
a way that the part of the figure on one
side of the line is a mirror reflection
of the part on the other side of the line.
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