Quantities, Relationships, and Operations

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Random House Word Menu by Stephen Glazier

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abscissa - horizontal coordinate of two-dimensional coordinate system in the Cartesian plane; x-axis
addend - one of a group of numbers to be added together
addition - arithmetic operation that combines numbers to generate sum
aggregate - whole sum, total amount; set of mathematical elements with a common property
algebraic function - sum, difference, product, quotient, or root of polynomial function
antilogarithm - number of which a given number is the logarithm
Arabic numeral - one of standard number symbols: 0,1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9; digit
area - number of unit squares required to cover surface; measurement of surface
arithmetic mean - average
arithmetic progression - sequence in which each succeeding term is derived by adding common difference to preceding term
associative law - result of multiple operations does not depend on how they are grouped
asymptote - straight line in relation to curve such that as point moves along infinite branch of curve the distance from point to line approaches zero
average - result that occurs when sum of two or more quantities is divided by the number of quantities; arithmetic mean
axiom - proposition assumed to be true without proof in order to study its applied consequences; self-evident truth
axis - straight line for reference in graph, such as Cartesian coordinate; straight line through center of plane or solid around which it is symmetrically arranged
base - number multiplied by itself in scientific notation; number that is raised to a power
billion - one thousand million
binary - (adj) designating system of numbers having two as its base
binomial - expression that is a sum or difference of two unlike terms
binomial distribution - probability function that indicates how often two outcomes with constant probability will occur in a succession of repetitive experiments
bisection - division of angle or form into two equal parts
cancel - (vb) remove either common divisor from numerator and denominator of fraction or equivalents from opposite sides of equation
cardinal number - number used in simple counting to indicate an amount, such as how many of something are in a set
Cartesian coordinate - either of two coordinates that locate point on Cartesian plane and measure its distance from x-axis or y-axis
chain rule - rule for taking derivative of composite function in which second function is taken as independent variable in differentiating first function
chi-square distribution - widely used probability density function that shows distribution of sum of squares of several independent random variables
circular function - trigonometric function
circumference - distance measured around outside of circle
coefficient - number that multiplies another quantity; factor of a product
common denominator - common multiple of denominators of two or more fractions
commutative law - rule of combination in which an operation on two terms is independent of the order of the terms
complement - angle or arc that when added to another angle or arc equals a right angle
complex number - real or imaginary number expressed as a + bi where a and b are real numbers and i is the square root of -1
composite function - function obtained from two given functions by applying one function to an independent variable and applying the second function to the result
composite number - integer divisible by a whole number other than itself or 1
compound number - number expressed in more than one denomination or unit, such as 6 feet, 2 inches
computation - act or method of determining an amount, esp. by arithmetic
concentric - (adj) designating two or more figures having a common center
congruence - property of having exactly the same size and shape
conjugate - (adj) having the same or similar properties, such as two lines; (n) one of two adjacent angles that total 360°
constant - quantity with fixed value, opposite of variable
continuous function - function whose value at each point is nearly the same as its values at nearby points
conversion - change in form but not value of quantity or unit
coordinates - numbers associated with points on number line or graph
corollary - theorem proved by application of a previously proved theorem
correlation coefficient - any measure of concomitant variation in two or more variables
corresponding angles - pair of nonadjacent angles on same side of line that crosses two other lines, one interior and one exterior
cosecant - trigonometric ratio expressed as secant of the complement of an arc or angle
cosine - trigonometric ratio expressed as sine of the complement of an arc or angle
cotangent - trigonometric ratio expressed as tangent of the complement of an arc or angle
count - (vb) recite numbers in standard order; add units in group one at a time
cross multiply - determine two products by multiplying numerator of each of two fractions by denominator of other
cryptarithm - arithmetic problem with letters substituted for numbers, solved by finding all possible pairings of digits and letters that produce numerically correct answer
cube - third power of a number; number multiplied by itself two times
cube root - number whose cube is given number
cubic equation - polynomial equation with no variable exponent higher than three
data - numerical information
decimal - (adj) designating system of numbers having ten as its base
decimal point - mark indicating division between integers and fractions in mixed number
degree - unit of angular measure; measure around fixed point, with total of 360 degrees in circle
denominator - lower number of fraction, indicating number of parts into which the whole has been divided
dependent variable - element in second set of a function associated with independent variable selected from first
derivative - rate of change of mathematical function with respect to change in independent variable
deviation - amount by which any single value differs from the mean
diameter - straight line extending from edge to edge through center point of sphere or circle
difference - amount of inequality between two quantities; result obtained when one quantity is subtracted from another
differential - product of the derivative of a function of one variable times the small increment of an independent variable
differential equation - equation containing derivatives
digit - one of Arabic numeral symbols: 0,1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9
distribution - arrangement of statistical population when one or more specific criteria are applied
distributive law - rule of combination in which specified operation applied to combination of terms equals combination of that operation applied individually to each term
dividend - number that is divided by divisor
division - arithmetic operation that finds how many times one number is contained in another, producing a quotient
divisor - number that divides dividend
domain - set of elements by which a function is limited or defined
eccentricity - number used to define form of a conic section as an ellipse, circle, parabola, or hyperbola
equation - mathematical statement containing the equals (=) sign between two different but equal algebraic formulations
even number - number that is divisible by two, where result is an integer
expansion - replacement of an expression by the sum of its individual terms or by an infinite series
exponent - superscript symbol used to indicate how many times a number is to be used as factor or multiplied by itself
exponential function - function with independent variable as an exponent
expression - symbol or combination of symbols representing a value or relationship
extrapolation - estimating value of a function beyond range of its known values
factor - two or more numbers multiplied together, each number being a factor of the product
factor analysis - statistical method that reduces large number of measures or tests to smaller number of factors that account for all results
factorial - product of all positive integers from given positive integer down to 1
Fibonacci sequence - unending sequence of numbers, each of which is the sum of its two predecessors
formula - equation illustrating rule for mathematical relationship of quantities
fraction - quantity expressed as the ratio of two integers that is not itself an integer
frequency distribution - grouping of observations or outcomes into classes and tabulation of number of occurrences of each class in given period
function - exact association of one element from one set with element from another set
geodesic - (adj) describing shortest line between two points on surface, esp. curved surface
geometric mean - square root of product of two numbers
geometric progression - sequence in which ratio of each succeeding term to preceding term is constant throughout
Gödel’s incompleteness theorem - theorem that within a given logical system there exists at least one mathematical formula that can be neither proved nor disproved
googol - number that is equal to 1 followed by 100 zeros
googolplex - number that is equal to 1 followed by a googol of zeros
hypotenuse - side of right triangle opposite right angle
hypothesis - provisionally true statement; supposition to be proved
imaginary number - square root of negative number, esp. imaginary unit represented by square root of -1
independent variable - element in function whose value is specified first and determines value of one or more other elements in expression of function
infinity - boundlessly great number, amount, or geometric magnitude
integer - any natural number, or positive or negative whole number, including zero; whole number
interpolation - determination of the intermediate unknown values of a function between two known values
inverse function - function that replaces another function when variables of first function are interchanged for set of values of independent variable
inverse proportion - ratio of x to y when one unknown is multiplied by a number and its proportional unknown is divided by that number
irrational number - any real number that cannot be expressed as the ratio of two integers
least common denominator - smallest number that divides evenly into numerator of fraction; multiple of denominators of two or more specified fractions; lowest common denominator
limit - value approached by function as its independent variable approaches some specific value
linear equation - algebraic equation in which variables are in first power and whose graph is a straight line
linear function - function with variables in first degree, multiplied only by constants, and combined by addition or subtraction
locus - set of all points satisfying given conditions
logarithm - exponent of that power of a fixed base number that equals another given number
logarithmic function - inverse of exponential function
lowest common denominator - least common denominator
magic square - matrix in which each column, row, and both main diagonals produce same constant sum
mantissa - decimal part of common logarithm
mapping - examination of entities with no meaning beyond themselves as they relate to a different set of entities, in order to generate conclusions
mathematical model - set of formulae or equations that describe behavior of physical system in mathematical terms
matrix - ordered set of elements arranged in rows and columns, esp. one that can be combined with similar arrays having comparable number of rows and columns
mean - average
median - middle item in array of data ranked from smallest to largest, used as statistical measure of primary tendency
million - one thousand thousand
minuend - number from which another number is subtracted
mixed number - number consisting of whole number and fraction
mode - statistical measure of primary tendency made by determining item that occurs most frequently in a data set
monomial - expression in form of single term that is either a constant, variable, or product of numbers and variables
multiplicand - number to be multiplied by another
multiplication - arithmetic operation in which additions of a number are repeated a specified number of times to produce a product
multiplier - number by which multiplicand is multiplied
natural number - positive integer
number - abstract unit in numeral series that represents an arbitrarily determined quantity; arithmetic total, sum of units involved
numeral - word, letter, symbol, or figure expressing or representing a number
numerator - upper number of fraction, indicating number of parts taken of denominator
odd number - number that is not evenly divisible by two
one-to-one function - function in which change in value in domain always gives different value for function
ordinal number - number indicating position in a series, as first or third
ordinate - vertical coordinate of two-dimensional coordinate system in Cartesian plane; y-axis
origin - point of intersection in coordinate system, esp. x-axis and y-axis system
parameter - arbitrary constant whose values describe some member of a system of curves, expressions, or functions; independent variable used to express coordinates of variable point and their functions
percent - percentage
percentage - ratio with denominator of 100; rate or proportion per hundred; percent
percentile - percentage of sample rated equal to or higher than given level in statistical study
perigon - round angle totaling 360 degrees
perimeter - distance measured around outer boundary of any two-dimensional figure
periodic function - function of a real or complex variable that has graph that repeats after fixed interval of the independent variable
permutation - arrangement of given number of objects in a set into any of various possibilities
pi - ratio of circumference of circle to its diameter, with a value equal to 22/7 or approximately 3.14159265, designated π
polynomial - expression containing sums or differences of monomials
polynomial function - function composed of one or more polynomials
population - entire group with which a given statistical study is concerned
postulate - unproved assumption
power - product resulting from repeated multiplication of a number by itself, square being second power, cube third
prime number - any integer other than one evenly divisible only by one and itself
probability - ratio of number of outcomes in a given series of events to total number of possible outcomes in that series
product - result of multiplication
proof - sequence of axioms, postulates, and theorems used to conclude that a statement is true
proportion - equality between ratios, esp. quotients of two fractions; ratio of x to y when both unknowns are multiplied or divided by the same number
Pythagorean theorem - in a right triangle the square of the hypotenuse is equal to the sum of the squares of the other two sides
quadratic equation - equation in which highest exponent of variable is two
quadratic function - function with elements expressed in at least first degree but no higher than second degree
quartile - one of the values of a variable that divides a frequency distribution into four groups having equal frequencies
quotient - result of dividing one number by another
radian - unit of angular measure equal to 57.296 degrees, being angle subtended at center of circle by arc of length equal to radius of that circle
radical - root of number or quantity, esp. square root symbol
radicand - expression under radical symbol; number whose square root is to be determined
radius - line segment from center of circle or sphere to point on circle or sphere
radix - base number
range - complete set of values a function may assume
ratio - comparison of two numbers, expressed as fractional quotient
rational function - quotient of two polynomials
rational number - number that can be expressed as integer or ratio of two integers
real number - part of complex number that is not imaginary, either rational or irrational
reciprocal - multiplicative inverse; number which when multiplied by its reciprocal is one
recurring decimal - decimal fraction ending in pattern of digits repeated indefinitely
remainder - number left after subtraction; portion of the dividend, not evenly divisible, left after division
Roman numeral - any of system of numerical notation based on values: I=1, V=5, X=10, L=50, C=100, D=500, M=1,000
root - quantity that when multiplied by itself a certain number of times produces a given quantity; square root or cube root
scientific notation - method of expressing number as product of number between 1 and 10, with integral power of ten as exponent
secant - trigonometric ratio of hypotenuse of right triangle to leg adjacent to its acute angle
series - expression obtained by adding sequence of terms, finite or infinite
set - collection of elements of same kind or class
significant digits - all nonzero digits in a number and zeros either between them or at end, where they signify accuracy to a number of places
simultaneous equations - two or more equations having common solutions, when used in same problem
sine - trigonometric ratio of side of right triangle opposite a given acute angle to hypotenuse
single parallel postulate - essential postulate of Euclidean geometry which states that only one line may be drawn through a given point parallel to a given line
square - product of number multiplied by itself
square root - one of two equal factors of a number
standard deviation - measure of variability in frequency distribution based on squares of deviations from mean
subtraction - arithmetic operation in which one number is reduced by another to produce a difference
subtrahend - number to be subtracted from minuend
sum - number resulting from addition of two or more numbers
supplement - angle or arc that when added to another angle or arc totals 180 degrees
tangent - trigonometric ratio between leg opposite acute angle in right triangle and leg adjacent to it
ten - base for decimal system of numbers
tens - successive places in multidigit integer in decimal system: tens, hundreds, thousands, etc.
theorem - statement that can be proved by mathematical deduction from given facts and justifiable assumptions
total - sum of two or more numbers
transcendental function - function that cannot be expressed by finite number of algebraic operations; exponential, logarithmic, or trigonometric function
transcendental number - number that cannot be root of algebraic equation with rational coefficients, such as pi
transfinite - (adj) designating number larger than any finite positive integer
transpose - (vb) transfer term from one side of algebraic equation to the other, reversing plus or minus sign in the process
trigonometric function - function of arc or angle expressed as ratio of any pair of sides of right triangle; circular function
trillion - one thousand billion; one million million
universe - set of all objects that are admissible to that set based on its parameters
unknown - variable whose value can be found by solving equation
variable - unknown placeholder in algebraic expression, opposite of constant, usu. indicated by a letter; (adj) having no fixed value
variance - in statistics, the square of the standard deviation
variation - manner in which two or more quantities change in relation to each other
vector - quantity possessing both magnitude and direction, represented by line segment of specific length and direction
volume - cubic magnitude of three-dimensional figure
whole number - zero or any positive or negative multiple of one; integer
x-axis - abscissa
x-coordinate - number associated with point on x-axis
y-axis - ordinate
y-coordinate - number associated with point on y-axis
zero - numeral 0, being point from which positive and negative quantities are measured, symbolizing the absence of quantity