Maths Vocab
This is a list of some maths terms with their definition and an example. (More will be added soon)
| Term | Definition | Example |
|---|---|---|
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Acute Angle |
An angle that measures less than 90o. |
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Area |
The amount of space taken up by a 2D shape or surface. Area is measured in square units for example cm2 or m2. |
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Array |
A pictorial representation (rows or dots) to help children to understand multiplication and division. |  |
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BIDMAS or BODMAS |
The order to complete mathematical calculations. |
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Circumference |
The measurement all the way around the outside edge of a circle. |
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Coordinates |
Numbers that give you a position on a grid marked by how far along they are on the x axis and how far up or down they are on the y axis. Always write the x axis value first. |  |
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Denominator |
The bottom number of a fraction that tells you how many parts a shape or amount has been divided equally into. |  |
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Diameter |
The length of a straight line through the centre of a circle from one point on the circumference to another point. |  |
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Divisor |
The number you are dividing by. |  |
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Equilateral Triangle |
A triangle where all sides are the same length and all angles are the same size. |
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Exchanging |
Converting from one place value to another - a term used instead of "carrying" in addition and "borrowing" in subtraction. |  |
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Factor |
A whole number which will divide exactly into another number. |
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Highest Common Factor (HCF) |
The highest number that two or more whole numbers is divisible by. It could be easier if you listed all the factors of each number. |  |
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Index (Plural: Indices) |
Also know as "power", the index shows how many times the number is used in a multiplication. |  |
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Isosceles Triangle |
Triangles that have 2 sides of equal length and 2 angles of equal size. |  |
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Lowest Common Multiple (LCM) |
The lowest number that is a multiple of two or more numbers. |  |
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Mean |
An average measure that is calculated by adding all the values in a data set together and dividing it by the number of values there are. |  |
| Median | An average measure that shows the middle value when a group of numbers is arranged in order of size. |  |
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Mode |
An average measure that shows the value which appears most frequently in a set of data. |  |
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Multiple |
A number that can be divided by a whole number without remainders. |
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Number Bonds |
Pairs of numbers that add up to made a certain number. |
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Numerator |
The number on the top of a fraction that tells you how many parts you have. |  |
| Obtuse Angle | An angle that measures more than 90o but less than 180o. |  |
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Partitioning |
Expanding or breaking down a number into the individual values of each digit - this helps with understanding place value. |
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Perimeter |
The distance measured around the outside of a 2D shape. |
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Place Value |
The value of a digit within a number. |
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| Prime Number | Numbers that only have two factors which are 1 and the number itself. |  |
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Radius |
The measurement of a straight line from the centre of a circle to any point on the circumference of a circle. |
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Range |
An average measure that shows the difference between the highest and the lowest value in a data set. |  |
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Ratio |
A comparison between the amounts of different things. |  |
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Reflex Angle |
An angle that measures more than 180o but less than 360o. |  |
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Right Angle |
An angle that measures exactly 90o. |
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| Scalene Triangle | A triangle where all the sides are of different lengths and all the angles are different values but one of the angles measures more than 90o. |  |
| Square Number | The value when a number is multiplied by itself. |  |
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x axis |
The horizontal axis on a graph or grid. Remember: "X is a-cross". |
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y axis |
The vertical axis on a graph or grid. |
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