abscissa the first number in a pair of Cartesian co-ordinates. The abscissa always represents the distance along the x-axis.

angle a measurement of turn.

approximation an inexact result adequate and appropriate for a given purpose.

arc a curved line that forms part of the circumference of a circle.

associative law numbers can be regrouped to simplify a question while mak­ing no difference to the answer. It is true for addition and multiplication:
             (a + b) + c = a + (b + c) (a × b) × c = a × (b × c)

average the general term used for using one number to represent a set of data.

bar graph a graph that uses bars to represent data.

bar-line graph a graph that uses lines to represent data.

block graph a graph used to display discrete data where one block can repre­sent one or many item(s) of data.

BODMAS the order of precedence given to the operations when working out complex expressions. It stands for:

B – brackets
O – of
D – division
M – multiplication
A – addition
S – subtraction

Could also be BIDMAS where the ‘I’ represents indices.

box and whisker plot a graphical representation that allows for comparison of two sets of data.

capacity how much liquid volume a container can hold when full.

Cartesian co-ordinates a pair of numbers that locate a point on a plane with reference to two axes (can also refer to three axes in order to locate a point in three dimensions).

chord a straight line connecting any two points on a curve. When a chord passes through the centre of a circle it is called the diameter.

column value the value of a digit defined by its position in a number.

commutative law: the order in which the operation is performed makes no dif­ference to the answer. It is true for addition and multiplication:
           a + b = b + a a × b = b × a

congruence shapes are said to be congruent if they are the same shape and size.

conjecture a hypothesis, something that has been surmised or deduced.

conservation understanding that the quantity of matter remains unchanged regardless of its arrangement.

continuous data data that is measured. Every item of data can be placed along a continuum, for example, lengths of leaves.

counter-example disproving an assertion by finding an exception.

cumulative frequency a table displaying the running total of a set of data.

cumulative frequency curve a graph of the running total of a set of data.

data a set of facts, numbers or information.

decimal a fractional number expressed using places to the right of the decimal point.

deduction a conclusion based on a set of true statements.

denominator the bottom number in a fraction, representing the number of fractional parts the unit has been divided into.

discrete data data that can be counted. Every item of data can be placed in a category, for example, colours of cars.

distributive law one operation is ‘distributed out’ over another operation. It is true for multiplication over addition and multiplication over subtraction:
           a × (b + c) = (a × b) + (a × c) a × (b – c) = (a × b) - (a × c)

It is also true that division is ‘right distributive’ over addition and subtraction (i.e. the division needs to be on the right side of the brackets):
           (a + b) ÷ c = (a ÷ c) + (b ÷ c) (a - b) ÷ c = (a ÷ c) - (b ÷ c)

dividend within the operation of division, the number that is divided by another number.

divisor within the operation of division, the number that divides another number.

edge the line where two faces join (i.e. the intersection of two plane faces of a solid).

enlargement each measurement is multiplied by a scale factor in order to enlarge or reduce an image.

equation a statement that two expressions are equal.

estimation the rough answer (a judgement of an approximate value or amount).

exhaustion a proof that is arrived at by considering all possibilities.

experimental probability the number between 0 and 1 that is found by dividing the number of outcomes by the total number of trials.

expression a general term used to describe mathematical terms.

face the flat surface of a solid shape (i.e. parts of planes).

factor a number that divides another number exactly, for example 8 is a factor of 32, but 5 is not.

fraction a fraction is expressed as the quotient of two numbers, the dividend is the numerator, the divisor the denominator.

frequency diagram a table displaying continuous data grouped into classes.

frequency histogram a graph displaying continuous data grouped into classes.

function a rule that changes or maps one number on to another.

gradient the slope of a graph.

imperial measure introduced in the Magna Carta in 1215, for example, pints, gallons, miles, etc.

independent events events when the outcome of one event does not affect the outcome of another event, for example, flipping two coins.

index form (or index notation) a concise way of writing repeated multipli­cation of a number by itself, for example, 10 × 10 × 10 × 10 = 10⁴.

inequality a statement that one quantity is greater or less than another.

integer a whole number (not a fractional number), for example, 2, 57 and 389. Examples of non-integers are 1.2 and 0.5.

interquartile range the interval between the upper quartile and the lower quartile in a set of data.

irrational numbers the set of numbers that cannot be expressed in fractional form.

inverse in mathematics inverse means ‘opposite’. Thus, addition is the inverse of subtraction.

line graph a graph used to display continuous data, where curves or line seg­ments join points of measured data.

linear equation takes the form ay + bx + c = 0. A linear equation can always be represented as a straight line graph.

lower quartile the value one quarter of the way along a set of ordered data.

mass the amount of matter contained in an object.

mean the sum of the values in a set of data divided by the total number of items in that set.

median the middle value of a set of ordered data.

minuend the quantity from which another quantity is to be subtracted.

mode the value that occurs most often in a set of data.

mutually exclusive events events which, having happened, exclude any other outcome from occurring in that same event, for example, throwing a 3 on a die excludes a 1, 2, 4, 5 or 6 being thrown at the same time.

net a flat shape that can be folded to form a solid.

numerator the top number in a fraction representing the number of fractional parts.

ordering putting a collection of items in order from smallest to biggest/biggest to smallest according to weight, length, thickness, etc.

ordinate the second number in a pair of Cartesian co-ordinates. The ordinate always represents the distance along the y-axis.

parallel lines travelling in the same direction but which will never meet.

percentage fractions with a denominator of 100. They can also be represented as decimals, for example 1/4 = 25/100 = 0.25 = 25%

perpendicular two lines are said to be perpendicular if they meet at right angles.

pi (π) an irrational number found when the circumference of a circle is divided by the diameter. It is approximately equal to 3.141592…

pictogram a form to display discrete data where one picture/symbol can repre­sent one or many item(s) of data.

pie chart a circle graph cut into sectors.

place value place value is used by number systems that allow the same digit to carry different values based on its position.

Platonic solids the five regular polyhedra, comprising the regular tetrahedron, the cube, the regular octahedron, the regular dodecahedron and the regular icosahedron.

polygon a plane shape with straight sides and many angles.

polyhedron (pl. polyhedra) a solid formed from many flat faces.

prism a solid shape with a uniform cross section.

probability used to measure the likelihood of certain events occurring in the future.

probability scale a scale from 0 to 1 that is used to measure the likelihood of an event occurring, with 0 being impossible and 1 being certain.

proportion compares part of a quantity with the whole, for example, a ratio of 1:3 results in proportions of 1 out of 4 and 3 out of 4.

pyramid a solid that has a polygon base and all other faces triangular.

quantity value the value you assign to a digit when you have established its column value.

quotient the result when one number is divided by another number.

range the interval between the greatest and least values in a set of data.

ratio a comparison between two quantities.

rational numbers the set of all numbers that can be written as fractions.

real numbers the set of rational numbers and irrational numbers combined.

recurring decimal a fraction in which a figure or a group of figures reoccur indefinitely, for example, 3.33333 or 2.14514145, etc.

reduction combining different parts of an equation to make it simpler.

reflection when a shape is reflected, a mirror image is created. The shape and size remain unchanged and the two images are congruent.

reflective symmetry also sometimes called line symmetry. A shape is said to have reflective symmetry if it can be folded so that one half fits exactly on top of the other half.

restoration simplifying an equation by performing the same operation on each side.

rotation rotation involves a turn around a fixed point. The shape and size remain unchanged, the two images are congruent.

rotational symmetry a shape is said to have rotational symmetry if it looks the same in different positions when rotated about its centre.

scattergraph a graph representing two types of data plotted as co-ordinates.

sector a wedge from a circle (like a slice of pie).

sigma means ‘the sum of’. The symbol for sigma is Σ. similarity shapes are said to be similar if all the angles are the same size and the shapes are the same but of different size, i.e. one is an enlargement of the other.

simultaneous linear equations two linear equations which have a common solution.

square number the number we get by multiplying an integer by itself.

standard form sometimes called standard index form as it uses powers of 10, i.e. 10 expressed in index form. It is a shorthand way of writing very small and very large numbers that would require a huge number of digits if written in full.

statistics statistics help us to bring order to data and to draw information from it.

subtrahend the number or term to be subtracted.

Système International (S.I.) determines the units of measurement used in the metric system, for example, millimetres, kilograms, litres, etc.

terms algebraic quantities that are separated from each other in expressions by operations.

theoretical probability the number between 0 and 1 that is found by divid­ing the number of actual outcomes by the total number of possible outcomes.

transitivity a mathematical relationship used to compare two objects or events, for example, if A is shorter than B, and B is shorter than C, then A must be shorter than C.

translation this takes place when a shape is moved from one place to another just by sliding it (without rotating, reflecting or enlarging).

upper quartile the value three-quarters of the way along a set of ordered data.

vertex the point of intersection of edges.

volume the amount of three-dimensional space an object occupies.

vulgar fraction a fraction expressed by numerator and denominator, not decimally; used in ordinary calculations (the original meaning of the word ‘vul­gar’ was ‘as used by ordinary people’).

weight the force exerted on a body due to gravity.

y-intercept the point at which a graph crosses the y-axis.