Name: Period: ______ Vocabulary Words and Definitions for Algebra

Name: ________________________________________ Period: ________

Vocabulary Words and Definitions for Algebra

Word/Phrase

Definition

I know what it

means

I think I know

what it means

I don’t know

what it means

Absolute Value

The distance between zero and the point representing

a real number on the number line

Additive Inverse

The opposite of a number

Algebraic Expression

An expression that contains at least one variable

Ascending Order

Putting terms in order "going up" based on the

exponents

Associative Property

For any numbers a, b, and c: (a + b) + c = a + (b + c)

and (ab)c = a(bc)

Axis of Symmetry

The line that divides a graph into two symmetrical

parts that are mirror images or each other

Base

The repeated factor of a number written in exponential

form

Binomial

A polynomial consisting of two terms

Coefficient

This is the number in front of the variables in a term

Combine Like Terms

Add or subtract terms that have the same variable and

exponent

Commutative Property

For any numbers a, b and c: a + b + c = a + c+ b and

abc = cba

Completing the Square

The process of rewriting a quadratic equation so that

one side is a perfect square trinomial

Compound Inequality

Two inequalities that are combined into one statement

by the word and or or

Consistent System

A system of equations that has at least one solution

Constant

A term with no variables

Converse

Opposite

Coordinate Plane

Formed by two number lines that intersect at their zero

points

Coordinates

Ordered pairs that identify points on a plane

Deductive Reasoning

The process of using logic to draw conclusions

Denominator

The lower half of a fraction

Dependent System

A system of equations that has infinitely many

solutions

Descending Order

Putting terms in order "going down" based on the

exponents

Word/Phrase

Definition

I know what it

means

I think I know

what it means

I don’t know

what it means

Difference

The answer to a subtraction problem

Difference of Two

Squares

A binomial whose terms are squares and have a minus

sign between them

Direct Variation

A linear relationship between two variables where

there is a non-zero number k; y = kx

Discriminant

The expression inside the radical of the quadratic

formula

Distributive Property

For any real numbers a, b, and c, a(b + c) = ab + ac

Domain

The set of all first coordinates (x-values) of a relation

or function

Elimination Method

Used to solve systems in which one variable is

eliminated by adding or subtracting two equations in

the system

Equation

A mathematical sentence with an equal sign

Equivalent Expressions

Expressions that are equal to each other

Equivalent Inequalities

Inequalities that have the same solution set

Evaluate

Replace each variable with a number and follow the

order of operations

Expand

Means to multiply

Exponent

The number of times the base is used as a factor

Extraneous Solution

An answer that does not satisfy the original equation

Factor

An integer that divides another integer with no

remainder

Factored Form

Rewriting a polynomial as the product of two or more

factors

Factorization

A representation of an expression as a product of two

or more expressions

Fractional Exponent

An exponent that can be written as m/n where n≠0

Function

A relation in which every domain value is paired with

exactly one range value

Function Notation

If x is the independent variable and y is the dependent

variable, then for y is f(x), read "f of x", where f names

the function

Graph

Drawing a line to represent the solutions to an

equation or inequality

Graph

Drawing a line to represent the solutions to an

equation or inequality

Word/Phrase

Definition

I know what it

means

I think I know

what it means

I don’t know

what it means

Greatest Common

Factor

The largest number that divides into two terms

Grouping Symbols

Symbols such as parentheses ( ), brackets [ ], and

braces { } that separate a part of an expression. A

fraction bar, absolute value symbols and radical

symbols may also be used as grouping symbols

Inconsistent System

A system of equations that has no solution

Independent System

A system of equations that has exactly one solution

Inequality

A sentence that uses one of the following symbols:

< , > , ≤, ≥

Infinite Solutions

When the answer to a system of equations is exactly

the same

Integer

The set of whole numbers and their opposites

Intersection

The set of all elements that are common to both sets,

denoted by a ∩

Inverse Operations

Two operations that undo each other, such as addition

and subtraction

Inverse Variation

A non-linear relationship between two variables where

there is a non-zero number k; y = k/x

Irrational Number

A number that can be represented by a non-repeating,

non-terminating decimal

Isolate the Variable

Collecting like terms and/or using inverse operations to

get the variable by itself on one side of the equation

Least Common

Denominator

The smallest denominator that two or more numbers

have in common

Least Common

Denominator

The smallest denominator that two or more numbers

have in common

Like Terms

Terms with the same variables raised to the same

exponent

Linear Equation

An equation written with one or more variables where

the exponent of the variable is one

Linear Inequality

An inequality written with one or more variables where

the exponent of the variable is one

Monomial

A polynomial consisting of one term

Multiple

The products of this number and any non-zero number

Word/Phrase

Definition

I know what it

means

I think I know

what it means

I don’t know

what it means

Multiplicative Identity

Property

Any number multiplied by one is that number

Multiplicative Inverse

The reciprocal of a number

Multiplicative Property of

Zero

Any number multiplied by zero is zero

Natural Number

The set of counting numbers

No Solution

When there is no answer to a system of equations or

inequalities

Numerator

The upper half of a fraction

Numerical Expression

An expression that represents a particular number

Opposites

Numbers that have the same distance from 0 on a

number line

Order of Operations

The rules for evaluating an expression involving more

than one operation

Ordered Pair

A pair of numbers (x, y) used to identify a point in a

coordinate plane

Origin

The intersection of the x axis and y axis on the

coordinate plane

Parabola

An up-turned or down-turned U-shaped graph

Parallel

Lines or planes that never intersect

Perfect Square

The square of an integer

Perfect Square

Trinomial or Trinomial

Square

Can be factored as the square of a binomial

Perpendicular

Lines or planes that intersect to form right angles

Point-Slope Equation

A non-vertical line that contains a point (x1, y1) and

has a slope of m and is found in the format of y - y1 =

m(x - x1)

Polynomial

A monomial or sum of monomials

Power

An expression written with a base and an exponent

Prime Factorization

A representation of a number or a polynomial as a

product of primes

Prime Number

A whole number greater than or equal to 2 that has

exactly two positive factors, 1 and itself

Product

The answer to a multiplication problem

Properties of Equality

Rules that transform an equation into an equivalent

equation

Property

A law that is followed in mathematics

Word/Phrase

Definition

I know what it

means

I think I know

what it means

I don’t know

what it means

Quadrant

One of the four regions into which coordinate axes

divides a plane

Quadratic Expression

A collection of terms that has one term that contains a

variable to the second power

Quadratic Formula

Used to find solutions to an equation that has a term

with a variable to the second power

Quotient

The answer to a division problem

Rate

A ratio that compares two quantities measured in

different units

Ratio

The relationship a/b of two quantities, a and b

Rational Expression

A fraction whose numerator and denominator are non-

zero polynomials

Rational Number

Any number that you can write as a quotient of two

integers a/b where b is not 0

Rational Number

Any number that you can write as a quotient of two

integers a/b where b is not 0

Real Number

The set of numbers that include all rational and

irrational numbers

Reciprocal

For a real number, a≠0, this is 1/a

Repeating Decimal

A rational number that has a block of one or more

digits (that are not all zero) after the decimal point that

continually show up

Replacement Set

A set of numbers that can be substituted for a variable

Rise

The difference in the y-values of two points on a line

Run

The difference in the x-values of two points on a line

Simplest Form

Is where the only common factor of a numerator and

denominator is 1

Simplest Form

Is where the only common factor of a numerator and

denominator is 1

Simplified Expression

To replace with an equivalent expression having as

few terms as possible

Simplify

Put expressions into their most reduced form

Slope

A measure of steepness of a line, represented by m

Slope-Intercept Form

A line with slope m and y-intercept b has an equation

y=mx+b

Solution

A value that makes the equation true

Word/Phrase

Definition

I know what it

means

I think I know

what it means

I don’t know

what it means

Solution of a Liner

Inequality

Answers that make an inequality true

Solve

To find a solution to an equation or inequality

Standard Form of an

Equation

AX + BY = C where A, B and C are constants, there

are no fractions and A must be positive

Standard Form of

Polynomials

When the terms of a polynomial are in order from

greatest to least based on the value of the exponent

Substitution Method

A method used to solve systems by solving an

equation for one variable and replacing the resulting

expression into the other equation

Sum

The answer to an addition problem

System of Equations

A set of two of more linear equations that contain 2 or

more variables

Terminating Decimal

A rational number that has a finite number of digits

after the decimal point

Terms of an Expression

The parts that are added or subtracted from an

expression

Trinomial

A polynomial consisting of three terms

Undefined

When there is no solution to the problem

Union

The set of all elements, denoted by a U

Variable

A letter that represents one or more numbers

Variable Expression

A symbolic form made up of constants, variables and

operations

Whole Number

A number system that includes the Natural Numbers

and Zero

X-Axis

The horizontal number line of a coordinate plane

X-Intercept

The point where a graph intersects the x-axis

Y-Axis

The vertical number line of a coordinate plane

Y-Intercept

The point where a graph intersects the y-axis