Vocabulary Cards and Word Walls

Revised: May 25, 2011

Important Notes for Teachers:

The vocabulary cards in this file match the Common Core, the math
curriculum adopted by the Utah State Board of Education, August 2010.
The cards are arranged alphabetically.
Each card has three sections.
o Section 1 is only the word. This is to be used as a visual aid in
spelling and pronunciation. It is also used when students are writing
their own kid-friendly definition and drawing their own graphic.
o Section 2 has the word and a graphic. This graphic is available to be
used as a model by the teacher.
o Section 3 has the word, a graphic, and a definition. This is to be used
for the Word Wall in the classroom. For more information on using a
Word Wall for Daily Review see Vocabulary Word Wall Ideas
on this website.
These cards are designed to help all students with math content vocabulary,
including ELL, Gifted and Talented, Special Education, and Regular
Education students.

For possible additions or corrections to the vocabulary cards, please contact the
Granite School District Math Department at 385-646-4239.

Bibliography of Definition Sources:

Algebra to Go, Great Source, 2000. ISBN 0-669-46151-8

Math on Call, Great Source, 2004. ISBN-13: 978-0-669-50819-2
Math at Hand, Great Source, 1999. ISBN 0-669-46922
Math to Know, Great Source, 2000. ISBN 0-669-47153-4
Illustrated Dictionary of Math, Usborne Publishing Ltd., 2003. ISBN 0-7945-0662-3
Math Dictionary, Eula Ewing Monroe, Boyds Mills Press, 2006. ISBN-13: 978-1-59078-413-6
Student Reference Books, Everyday Mathematics, 2007.
Houghton-Mifflin eGlossary, http://www.eduplace.com
Interactive Math Dictionary, http://www.amathsdictionaryforkids.com/
 absolute value
absolute -5 = 5
value
absolute The distance of a number

-5 = 5 from zero on the number

line. Always positive.
value
 axis
y-axis

x-axis

axis
y-axis

A reference line from

x-axis which distances or

axis angles are measured in a

coordinate grid.
(plural axes)
 coordinate pair
coordinate (-5, 2)
(x , y)
pair
coordinate (-5, 2)
A pair of numbers that gives
the coordinates of a point on
a grid in this order (horizontal
coordinate, vertical

pair (x , y)
coordinate). Also known as
an ordered pair.
coordinate plane
coordinate
plane
A 2-dimensional system in
which the coordinates of a
coordinate point are its distances
from two intersecting,
usually perpendicular,
plane straight lines called axes.
(Also called coordinate
grid or coordinate system.)
coordinate system
coordinate
system
Also known as a
coordinate grid. A
coordinate 2-dimensional system in
which the coordinates of
a point are its distances
system from two intersecting,
usually perpendicular,
straight lines called axes.
 coordinates
coordinates (3,-5)
(x , y)

An ordered pair of

coordinates (3,-5)
(x , y)
numbers that
identify a point on
a coordinate plane.
 inequality
5x + 6 < 20 2x

inequality
5x + 6 < 20 2x A mathematical
sentence that compares
inequality two unequal expressions
using one of the
symbols <, >, , , or .
 integers
START

integers
START
The set of whole
integers numbers and
their opposites.
negative numbers
negative
numbers
negative Numbers less than 0.

numbers
 opposite
+3 and -3 are opposites.

opposite
+3 and -3 are opposites.
Having a different

opposite sign but the same

numeral.
 ordered pair
ordered pair (-5, 2)
(x , y)

A pair of numbers
that gives the
coordinates of a

ordered pair (-5, 2) point on a grid in this

order (horizontal
coordinate, vertical
coordinate). Also
(x , y) known as a
coordinate pair.
 origin
origin
The intersection of
the x- and y-axes in

origin a coordinate plane,

described by the
ordered pair (0, 0).
positive numbers
positive
numbers
positive Numbers that are
greater than zero.

numbers
 quadrants
y
Quadrant Quadrant
II I

quadrants Quadrant
III
Quadrant
IV
x

y
Quadrant Quadrant
II I The four sections of

quadrants Quadrant Quadrant

x
a coordinate grid
that are separated
by the axes.
III IV
rational number
rational
number
rational A number that can
be expressed as a
ratio of two integers.
number
 signed number
signed -5 +8

number +45 -23

5
-5 +8
signed -23
Positive or negative
number.

number +45
5
 ax-axis
x-axis x-axis

x-axis x-axis
In a Cartesian grid, the
horizontal axis.
 x-coordinate
(7, 2)
x-coordinate
x-coordinate

(7, 2) In an ordered

x-coordinate pair, the value

that is always
written first.
x-coordinate
 y-axis
y-axis

y-axis
y-axis

y-axis In a Cartesian grid, the

vertical axis.
 y-coordinate
(7, 2)
y-coordinate
y-coordinate

(7, 2) In an ordered

y-coordinate pair, the value

that is always
written second.
y-coordinate