Here you will find a simple dictionary of mathematical terms and words. For a more detailed explanation, look at the KS3/GCSE or A-Level pages.
This page is under constant review and new words are likely to be added on a weekly basis. If the word you would like to know the meaning of is not here, please email GaziNotes and we will reply (usually within 24 hours) and we will add the word to the list (usually within a few days).
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Acceleration |
The rate at which the speed of an object is increasing or decreasing |
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Area |
The amount of flat space inside a shape counted in squares (cm2, m2 etc) |
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Cancel |
Divide top and bottom by common factors to make fraction numbers smaller |
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Capacity |
How much fluid can fit into a 3D shape |
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Chord |
Any straight line which touches opposite edges of a circle |
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Cosine (cos) |
Adjacent/Hypotenuse |
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Cubic |
Any expression in which the highest power of x is 3 eg 4x3+3x2 |
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Diameter |
Distance from one edge of a circle to the opposite edge passing through the centre of the circle |
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Expression |
A collection of algebraic terms eg 2ab + 3bc +4cd |
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Factor |
Number which divides evenly into |
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Factorise |
To put into brackets eg 2x4+8x3 = 2x3(x+4) |
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Formula |
An algebraic expression which tells you how to work something out A=bh |
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Hexagon |
A 2D shape with 6 straight sides |
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Integer |
Whole number |
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Irrational number |
A number which cannot be expressed as an exact fraction eg |
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Multiple |
Numbers in the times table eg multiples of 3 are 3, 6, 9, 12, 15 etc |
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Parallel Lines |
Straight lines that are always the same distance apart |
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Pentagon |
A 2D shape with 5 straight sides |
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Prime Numbers |
Number which has exactly 2 factors, these are 1 and itself eg. 2, 3, 5, 7, 11, 13 etc |
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Prism |
A 3D shape with straight parallel sides and the same cross section throughout |
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Quadratic |
Any expression in which the highest power of x is 2 eg 4x2+3x |
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Quadrilateral |
A 2D shape with 4 straight sides |
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Radius |
Distance from the centre of the circle to the edge of the circle |
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Rational Number |
A number which can be expressed as an exact fraction |
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Scale Factor |
The amount by which a shapes sides are getting larger or smaller |
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Simplify |
Collect terms to make the expression simpler/shorter. Often includes factorising. |
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Sine (sin) |
Opposite/Hypotenuse |
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Solve |
To find the value (or values) for the unknown letter |
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Speed |
How fast something is going measured by distand/time eg miles per hour, metres per second |
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Square numbers |
Numbers which have an exact square root, (eg 1, 4, 9, 16, 25 etc) |
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Tangent (circles) |
A line which touches, but does not go through, the circumference of a circle at only 1 point |
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Tangent (tan) |
Opposite/Adjacent |
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Term |
A group of letters and/or numbers all multiplying each other eg 2a2b |
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Triangle |
A 2D shape with 3 straight sides |
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Triangular numbers |
Can be drawn in a triangle shape, go up 1 more with each term: 1, 3, 6, 10, 15 etc |
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Volume |
The amount of 3D space inside a shape counted in cubes (cm cubes, m cubes etc) |