Math Vocabulary

Addend
Any of the numbers that are added
Example: 2 + 3 = 5
The addends are 2 and 3.

acute angle
An angle that measures less
than a right angle (90).
Example:

Addition
The process of finding the total
number of items when two
groups of items are joined; the
opposite operation of subtraction
Example:3 + 2 = 5

Angle

A.M.
The time between midnight
and noon

A figure formed where two

line segments cross or meet
Example:

Area
The number of square units
needed to cover the surface
of a figure
Example:
area = 9 square units
Average
One way to find a number
that best represents all the
numbers in a set
Example:

Array
An arrangement that shows
objects in rows and columns
Example:

3 X 4 = 12
bar graph
A way to show information
that uses bars to stand for
data
Example:

Capacity

Cell

The amount a container can

hold when filled

Any single box in a table

Example:

Example:

circle graph
A graph in the shape of a
circle that shows data as a
whole made up of different
parts
Example

degrees
Celsius (C)
A standard unit
for measuring
temperature in
the metric
system

centimeter (cm)
A metric unit that is used
to measure length100
centimeters = 1 meter
Cone
A solid, pointed figure that
has a flat, round base
Example:

Cube
A solid figure with six
congruent square faces
Examples:

benchmark number

Numbers like 10, 25, 50, or

100 that are used to help
make estimates
closed figure
A figure that begins and ends
at the same point
Examples:

congruent figures
Figures that have the same
size and shape
Example:

Cube
A solid figure with six
congruent square faces

cup (c)
A customary unit used to
measure capacity

Example:

2 cups = 1 pint
Cylinder
A solid or hollow object that
is shaped like a can
Example:

decimal point
A period that separates the
whole numbers from the
fractional part of a number; or
that separates dollars from
cents
Example:
degrees
Fahrenheit
(F)
A standard unit
for measuring
temperature in
the customary
system

Difference
The answer in a subtraction
problem
Example:
8-5=3
3 is the difference.

Decimal
A number that uses place value
and a decimal point to show
tenths, hundredths, and so on.
Examples:
0.5 = five tenths
0.25 = twenty-five hundredths

Decimeter
A metric unit that is used
to measure length10
decimeters = 1 meter
Denominator
The number below the bar in
a fraction. It tells the total
number of equal parts or
groups into which the whole
or group has been divided.
Example:

Digit
Any one of the ten
symbols 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6,
7, 8, or 9 used to write
numbers

Dividend
The number that is being
divided in a division problem
Examples: 35 5 = 7 ! ! !
The dividend is 35.

Divisor
The number that divides the
dividend
Examples:18 3 = 6 ! ! !

Division

The process of sharing a number

of items to find how many
groups can be made or how
many items will be in a group;
the opposite operation of
multiplication
Example:
63=2

double-bar graph
A graph using bars to
compare similar kinds of
data.
Example:

The divisor is 3.
Edge
The line segment where two
faces of a solid figure meet
Example:

equivalent fractions
Two or more fractions that
name the same amount
Example:

elapsed time
The time that passes from the
start of an activity to the end
of that activity
Example:

equilateral triangle
A triangle with all sides
congruent
Example:

Estimate
Rounding numbers to find about how
many

even number
A whole number that has a
0, 2, 4, 6, 8,
in the ones place
Examples: 8, 10, 12, 14, 16, 18, 20

Face

expanded form
A way to write numbers by
showing the value of each
digit
Example:

A flat surface of a solid

figure
Example:

241 = 200 + 40 + 1
fact family

A set of related addition and

subtraction or multiplication and
division number sentences
Examples:
2 + 4 = 6 !!!!! 6 - 4 = 2
4 + 2 = 6 !!!!! 6 - 2 = 4
Or
3 X 6 = 18 !!!!18 6 = 3
6 X 3 = 18 !!!!18 3 = 6

factor tree
A diagram that shows the
prime factors of a composite
number
Example:

Flip
A move that involves
flipping a figure across a line
Example:

Fraction
A number that names part of
a whole or part of a group

gallon (gal)

greater than (>)

A customary unit used to

measure capacity

4 quarts = 1 gallon
Grid
A map divided into equally
spaced squares
Example:

Example:

A symbol used to compare

two numbers, with the greater
number given first
Example: 8 > 6
is greater than 6.

Hexagon
A polygon with 6 sides and 6
angles
Examples:

horizontal bar graph

A bar graph that has bars
going across from left to right
Example:

Hundredth
One of one hundred equal
parts
Example:

intersecting lines
Two or more lines that cross
at exactly one point
Example:

The lines intersect at point B

Key
Used on a pictograph to tell
how many each picture stands
for
Example:

inverse operations
Operations that undo each other.
Addition and subtraction are inverse,
or opposite operations, and so are
multiplication and division.
Examples:

5 + 4 = 9, so 9 - 4 = 5.
X 3 = 18, so 18 3 = 6.

less than (<)

A symbol used to compare
two numbers, with the lesser
number given first
Example:
6 < 86 is less than 8.
line graph

Line
A straight path extending in
both directions with no
endpoints

line of symmetry
A line that divides a figure
into two congruent parts
Example:

A graph that uses line

segments to show how data
change over a period of time
Example:

line segment
Part of a line, with two
endpoints
Example:

make a ten
The way to find the sum
when one of the addends is
close to 10
Example:9 + 6 = ?

minutes (min)
Minutes measure short
amounts of time. There are
60 minutes in one hour.
Example:

9 + 1 = 10 and 10 + 5 = 15
Multiplication

The process of finding the total number

of items made up of equal-size groups,
or of finding the total number of items in
a given number of groups. Each group
contains the same number of items. It is
the opposite operation of division.
Example:

Multiple
A number that is the product
of a given number and a
whole number
Example:

number line
A line with equally spaced
ticks named by numbers
Example:
obtuse angle
An angle whose measure is
greater than 90 and less than
180
Example:

negative numbers
Numbers less than zero
Example:

Net
A two-dimensional pattern of
a three-dimensional solid
Example:

Numerator
The number above the bar in a
fraction. It tells how many of
the equal parts of the whole or
group are being considered.
Example:
Odd number
A whole number that has 1, 3, 5, 7, or
9 in the ones place
Examples: 1, 3, 5, 7, 9, 11, 13, 15, 17

Octagon
A polygon with 8 sides and 8
angles

open figure
A figure that does not begin
and end at the same point
Examples:

Examples:
ordered pair

A pair of numbers used to locate a

point on a grid. The first number
tells the left-right position and the
second number tells the up-down
position.
Example:(1,2) represents
1
space to the right of
zero and
2 spaces up

parallel lines
Lines that never cross and are
always the same distance
apart

ordinal number
A number telling order or
position
Examples:

Parallelogram
A quadrilateral with 2 pairs of
parallel sides, 2 pairs of equal
angles, and 2 pairs of equal
sides
Examples:

Example:

Pentagon
A polygon with 5 sides and 5
angles
Examples:

Perimeter
The distance around a figure
is called the perimeter.

2+2+2+2=8

Percent
A ratio of some number to
100; The symbol for percent
is %.
Example:

Pictograph
A graph that uses pictures to
show and compare
information
Example:

pint (pt)
A customary unit used to
measure capacity

place value
The system in which the
position of a digit in a number
determines its value; see
decimal number system
Example:

2 cups = 1 pint
point symmetry
When a figure can be turned
about a central point and still
look the same
Example:

Polygon
A closed plane figure with
straight sides
Examples:

Probability
The chance that a given event
will occur
Example:

Product
The answer to a
multiplication problem
Example:6 X 2 = 12The
product is 12.
quart (qt)

Quadrilateral
A polygon with 4 angles and
4 sides

A customary unit used to

measure capacity

Examples:

2 pints = 1 quart

Rectangle

Quotient
The answer in a division
problem
Examples: 35 5 = 7 ! ! !
The quotient is 7.

A plane figure with 4 sides

and 4 right angles
Example:

rectangular prism
A solid figure in which all six
faces are rectangles
Example:

Regroup
To exchange amounts of
equal value to rename a
number
Example:
23 = 2 tens 3 ones! !
or 23 = 1 ten & 13 ones
Rhombus

Remainder
The number that is left over
after dividing
Example:

right angle
A right angle is a special
angle. The corners of a sheet
of paper are at right angles.
Example:

A parallelogram whose four

sides are congruent and
whose opposite angles are
congruent
Example:

Round
When you round a number to
the nearest ten, you find the
ten that is closest.
Example: 23 2036 40

Scale
The numbers on a bar graph
that help you read the
number each bar shows
Example:

similar figures
Figures that have the same
shape but may have different
sizes
Example:

Schedule
A table that lists activities
and the times they happen
Example:

Slide
A movement of a figure to a
new position without turning
or flipping it
Example:

solid figure
Examples:

Square
A plane figure with 4 equal
sides and 4 right angles
Example:

Sphere
Any round object whose
curved surface is the same
distance from the center to all
its points
Example:

square number
A product of two factors that
are the same
Example:
3X3=9
9 is a square number.

square pyramid
A solid figure with a base that
is a square and four faces that
are triangles with a common
point
Example:
Subtraction
The process of finding how many
are left when a number of items
are taken away from a group of
items; the process of finding the
difference when two groups are
compared; the opposite operation
of addition
Example

tally table
A way to organize data that
uses tally marks to show how
often something happens
Example:

standard form
A way to write numbers by
using the digits 0-9, with each
digit having a place value
Example: 2,394

Sum
The answer to an addition
problem
Example: 12 + 7 = 19
The sum is 19.
Tangram
A puzzle consisting of seven
plane figures that can be
rearranged to make various
figures or shapes
Example:

Tenth
One of ten equal parts
Example:

three-dimensional
A measure in three
directions, such as length,
width, and height
Examples:

Trapezoid
A quadrilateral with only
one pair of parallel sides
Example:

Turn
A move that involves turning
a figure
Example:

Volume
The measure of the space a
solid figure occupies
Example:

Tessellation
A repeating pattern of closed
figures that covers a surface
with no gaps and no overlaps
Example:

Transformation
The movement of a figure,
either a translation, rotation,
or reflection
Examples:

Triangle
A triangle is a plane figure
with 3 sides and 3 angles
Examples:

vertical bar graph

A bar graph that has bars
going up from the bottom
Example:

Venn diagram
A diagram that uses circles
to show relationships among
sets of things
Example: