Mathematics 4: Course Glossary

addend:
a number that is added in an addition problem

For example, in 6 + 5 = 11, 6 and 5 are the addends.

angle:
the V-shape made when two straight lines intersect at a point

area:
the amount of space covered by a shape

arithmetic sentence:
a sentence that involves addition, subtraction, multiplication, or division

arm span:
the distance between the fingertips of a person’s outstretched arms

array:
a group of objects arranged in rows and columns

array:
a group of objects arranged in rows and columns

Each row will have the same number of objects. Each column will have the same number of objects.

axis:
the horizontal or vertical number line on a graph

The plural of axis is axes (pronounced a- eez).

bar graph:
a graph that presents information by using horizontal bars or vertical bars

base:
the surface of a geometric figure on which it can stand

capacity:
the amount a container can hold

For example, the capacity of a pop can is 355 mL.

cent:
the unit of money that equals one hundredth of a dollar

centimetre (cm):
a unit used to measure length, distance, or height

1 cm = 10 mm

century:
a time period of 100 years

chance:
to happen by accident; an opportunity

circle:
a round shape created by a curved line

Every point on the line is the same distance from the centre.

circumference:
the distance around the outside edge of a circular shape or object

cone:
a solid, pointed object that has a flat, round base

congruent:
having the same size and shape

cube:
a solid with six equal, square sides

cylinder:
a solid with two bases which are equal, parallel, circles with a curved surface

data management:
the collecting, organizing, and interpreting of data

data:
information collected to solve a problem

data:
facts and figures that can be organized to provide information

decade:
a time period of ten years

decimal number:
a number made up of a whole number part and a fraction part that are separated by a decimal point

decimal point:
a dot that separates the ones and tenths places in a decimal number

decimal point:
a dot that separates the ones and tenths places in a decimal number

For example, in the number 5.8, the decimal point separates the whole number 5 from the portion 8 tenths. The entire number can be read as five and eight tenths.

decimetre (dm):
a unit used to measure length, distance, or height

1 dm = 10 cm

denominator:
the lower number in a fraction that shows the total number of parts in the whole

 
digit:
any of the symbols 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 used to write numbers

dime:
the unit of money that equals ten cents, or ten hundredths of a dollar
distance:
the amount of space between objects or places

dividend:
the total number of items to be divided

For example, in 12 ÷ 3 = 4, 12 is the dividend.

division:
the process of sharing or grouping a number of items into smaller groups

A division sentence can be written two ways.

12 ÷ 4 = 3 or

divisor:
a number by which another number is to be divided

For example, in 12 ÷ 3 = 4, 3 is the divisor.

dollar:
the unit of money that equals
easy pairs:
pairs of numbers that are easy to multiply
Example: 5 × 2

edge:
a line at which two surfaces of a solid meet

endpoint:
the spot where a line segment begins or ends

estimate:
to make a careful guess that is close to the actual value without calculating the value exactly

even number:
a whole number that can be divided by 2 without a remainder

Numbers ending in 0, 2, 4, 6, and 8 are even numbers. Examples of even numbers are 32, 188, and 604.

event
:
something that happens; an occurrence

expanded form:
a way of writing a number so that the place value of each digit is shown
674 = 600 + 70 + 4

face:
one of the plane surfaces of a solid

factor:
any of the numbers used to form the product of another number

For example, 3 and 4 are factors of 12 (3 × 4) = 12.

fifths:
fractions that show five equal parts

figure:
a two-dimensional geometric diagram

figure:
a two-dimensional shape; a flat shape

figure:
a form, outline or shape

fourths:
fractions that show four total parts; also called quarters

fraction:
a number that shows parts of a whole or an amount less than 1

geometry:
the study of shape and space

gram (g):
a unit used to measure mass

grid:
the numbered squares drawn on maps and used as points of reference

grouping property for multiplication:
Changing the grouping of the factors does not change the product.

For example,

halves:
plural form of half; fractions that show two equal parts

height:
the distance from the bottom to the top of an object

hexagon:
a six-sided shape A regular hexagon has six equal sides and six equal angles.
hexagon:
a six-sided polygon

horizontal line:
a line that follows the horizon or goes across from left to right

hundredths:
the place that is two places to the right of the decimal point in a decimal number; fractions that show 100 equal parts

intersect:
to cross or meet

intersecting lines:
lines that meet or cross

interval:
the space between any two ticks along the vertical axis of a bar graph

In one-to-one correspondence, the interval stands for 1 unit (for example, 1 person, 1 animal, 1 centimetre, etc.).

In many-to-one correspondence, the interval stands for a number greater than 1 (for example, 5 books,10 metres, 1000 people).

kilogram (kg) (kilo):
a unit used to measure mass

1 kg = 1000 g

kilometre (km):
a unit used to measure distance

1 km = 1000 m

legend:
the words and symbols accompanying a map or diagram

length:
how long something is; the distance from one end to the other on the longer side of an object

line graph:
a graph that displays information by using points joined together by line segments

line of symmetry:
a line that divides a shape into two equal parts

line plot:
a method of displaying number data by making marks above a group of numbers on a number line; sometimes called a number-line plot

line segment:
is a part of a line that has a starting point and a stopping point

line:
the straight or curved path that a point may be imagined to make as it moves; a long thin mark or stroke

litre (L):
a unit used to measure capacity

1000 mL = 1 L

manipulatives:
materials that are used to show numbers

many-to-one correspondence:
a method of displaying number data on a graph

On pictographs, the symbol being used stands for more than one person or thing being counted. On bar graphs, each interval along the vertical axis stands for more than one person or object.

mass:
the amount of matter in an object, measured by its weight

metre:
the basic unit for measuring length and distance

1 m = 100 cm

millennium:
a time period of 1000 years

millilitre (mL):
a unit used to measure capacity

1000 mL = 1 L

millimetre (mm):
a unit used to measure length, distance, or height

10 mm = 1 cm

multiple:
the number arrived at when you multiply a given number by 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and so on. For example, 16 is a multiple of 8 because 8 can be multiplied by 2 to arrive at 16. However, 16 is not a multiple of 3, 7, or 9 because none of these numbers can be multiplied by 1, 2, 3, 4, and so on to arrive at 16.

multiplication fact:
the factors multiplied to give a product

For example, 7 × 3 = 21 is a multiplication fact.

multiplication sentence:
the factors multiplied to give a product

For example, 3 × 81 = 243 is a multiplication sentence.

multiplication:
taking a number and adding it to itself a certain number of times

For example, in the number sentence 4 × 5 = 20, you are adding a group of five items four times or 5 + 5 + 5 + 5 = 20.

nickel:
the unit of money that equals five cents, or five hundredths of a dollar

number line:
a straight line with labelled points that shows numbers in order

numeral:
the written form of a number using digits. For example, the numeral for twenty-three is 23.

 
numerator:
the upper number in a fraction that shows the number of parts out of the whole

octagon:
an eight-sided polygon

 
odd number:
a whole number that cannot be divided by 2 without a remainder

Numbers ending in 1, 3, 5, 7, and 9 are odd numbers. Examples of odd numbers are 15, 63, 121, and 639.

one-to-one correspondence:
a method of displaying data on a graph

On pictographs, one symbol stands for one person or thing being counted. On bar graphs, each interval along the vertical axis stands for one person or thing being counted.

operation:
a mathematical process or action, such as adding, subtracting, multiplying, or dividing

order property for multiplication:
When two numbers are multiplied, changing the order of the factors does not change the product.

outcome:
the end result of an event or happening

parallel lines:
lines that are always the same distance apart

parallelogram:
a four-sided figure whose opposite sides are parallel and of the same length

 
pattern:
a repeating design of colours, lines, shapes, figures, sounds, words, letters, or numbers

The arrangement usually allows you to predict how the pattern will continue.

pentagon:
a five-sided figure.

perimeter:
the distance around the outside edge of a shape or figure
 

perpendicular lines:
lines that form a right angle when they intersect

pictograph:
a graph that presents information (such as the results of a survey) by using pictures or symbols

place-value system:
a number system in which the position of a digit tells its value. For example, in the base ten system, the 4 in 7495 means 400.

 
poll:
a survey, usually one asking people which choice they prefer or how they will vote in an election

 
polygon:
a flat shape or figure made by joining three or more straight lines

portion:
a part of a whole

prism:
a 3-D solid with two similar bases and at least three flat sides or faces

probability:
the study of chance events; making predictions on the likelihood of certain events or outcomes happening

probable:
likely; almost sure to happen

product:
the number arrived at when two or more numbers are multiplied

For example, 18 is the product of 6 and 3.

 

pyramid:
a 3-D object with one base (a polygon) and flat sides or surfaces that meet at a point

quadrilateral:
a four-sided figure

quarter:
the unit of money that equals twenty-five cents, or twenty-five hundredths of a dollar

quotient:
the number obtained by dividing one number by another

For example, in 12 ÷ 3 = 4, 4 is the quotient.

random sample:
a sample of people in which all members of the population have an equal chance of being chosen

ray:
a line with one endpoint coming out from a center

rectangle:
a right-angled parallelogram that is not a square

rectangle:
a flat shape with four sides

The parallel sides of a rectangle are equal and the corners are square.

related fact:
a number fact that can be considered part of a family of facts

Because multiplication and division are inverse operations, these facts are all related:

Because addition and subtraction are also inverse operations, you can say that these facts are related:

related number sentences:
a set of number facts (usually four facts) made up of the same numbers

Two addition facts and two subtraction facts can make up a family.

For example,

7 + 9 = 16
9 + 7 = 16
16 - 9 = 7
16 - 7 = 9

Two multiplication facts and two division facts can also make up a family.

For example,

4 × 8 = 32
8 × 4 = 32
32 ÷ 4 = 8
32 ÷ 8 = 4
remainder:
the number left over when a number cannot be evenly divided

For example, the problem 13 ÷ 3 will result in 4 smaller groups but 1 will be left over. This 1 is called the remainder. (The remainder is not enough to make another group.)

response sheet:
a sheet used to record the actual answers of the people being surveyed; may be used instead of a tally sheet

rhombus:
a parallelogram with no right angles and all sides are the same length

right angle:
an angle forming a square corner

right triangle:
a triangle with one right angle

rounded number:
a number that is approximately equal to a given number. For example, 24 573 rounded to the nearest ten is 24 570; 24 573 rounded to the nearest hundred is 24 600; and
rounded number:
a number that is approximately equal to a given number

For example, 5349
–rounded to the nearest ten is 5350
–rounded to the nearest hundred is 5300
–rounded to the nearest thousand is 5000

sample:
a small group used to provide information about a larger group; also called a sample population

scale:
a measuring tool used to find the mass of an object

scale:
the size of a map or drawing compared with what it represents

skip counting:
counting in a pattern by omitting numbers

. For example, if you skip count by 2s, you will have 2, 4, 6, 8, ...; if you skip count by 3s, you will have 3, 6, 9, 12, ...; and if you skip count by 5s, you will have 5, 10, 15, 20, ....

skip counting:
counting in a pattern by omitting numbers

Examples:

  • counting by 2s:

    2, 4, 6, 8, 10, ...

  • counting by 3s:
 
3, 6, 9, 12, ...

sphere:
a round solid figure

square centimetre (cm²):
a unit of measurement (1 cm by 1 cm) used to calculate area

square metre (m²):
a unit of measurement (1 m by 1 m) used to calculate area

square number:
the product of a number multiplied by itself

Examples:

2 × 2 = 4
6 × 6 = 36

The numbers 4 and 36 are square numbers.

square:
a four-sided figure with four right angles and four sides of the same length.

survey:
one or more questions asked of a sample of people to obtain information

symmetrical:
having identical parts when cut in half by a line

table:
an orderly arrangement of facts or numbers set out in rows or columns for easy reference

tally marks:
the marks used to record the frequency of data

Each group of five tally marks is usually recorded as a group of four vertical lines with one line across it.

tally sheet:
a record of tally marks arranged in order to show the number of times something occurs

tally
:
a quick way of recording results by using simple line marks

tenths:
the place to the right of the decimal point in a decimal number; fractions that show ten equal parts

theory:
an idea or statement that states something believed to be true

thirds:
fractions that show three equal parts

three-dimensional objects:
objects with height, width, and depth

trapezoid:
a four-sided figure with one pair of parallel sides.

trial
:
a series of events in an experiment that helps to test a prediction

triangle:
a flat shape with three sides

triangle:
a three-sided figure

T-table:
a table of data, usually having two columns

two-dimensional figures:
flat figures having only height and width

typical:
the word used to describe what is most common or what things are usually true about data that has been collected

Example: The data shows that a typical house in our neighbourhood has three bedrooms.

vertex:
a point where two lines meet (a corner)

The plural form of vertex is vertices.

vertical line:
a line that extends from top to bottom

volume:
the amount of space inside a container; another word for capacity

weigh:
to measure the mass of an object

whole numbers:
the set of numbers 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, and so on; numbers that are not made up of fractions or decimals

width:
the distance from side to side, usually on the shorter side of an object

zero property for multiplication:
The product of zero and any number is always zero.

Copyright ©2002, Alberta Learning.