Glossary

absolute when a numerical value increases or decreases, the absolute

change change is the positive difference between the old and new values
accurate exact or correct to a given level of accuracy such as 1 d.p.
or 3 s.f.
adapt change to make suitable for a new situation
advantages good points
algebraically using algebra
alternate two equal angles between two parallel lines on opposite sides of
angles a transversal
anticlockwise turning in the opposite direction to the hands of a clock
approximate a number rounded to a suitable degree of accuracy
value
arc part of the circumference of a circle
bearing an angle measured clockwise from north
bisector a line that divides a line segment or an angle into two equal parts
brackets used to enclose items that are to be seen as a single expression
categorical data that can be divided into specific groups such as eye colour
data and favourite sport
centre of the fixed point of an enlargement
enlargement
(COE)
centre of the point that remains still when a shape is turned
rotation
changing the rearranging a formula or equation to get a different letter on
subject its own
circumference the perimeter of a circle
class interval the width of a group in a grouped frequency table/diagram
classes groups used for recording data in a grouped frequency table/
diagram
clockwise turning in the same direction as the hands of a clock
closed interval a range of numbers that does include its endpoints
coefficient a number in front of a variable in an algebraic expression or
equation; the coefficient multiplies the variable
column vector two numbers, placed vertically, that describe a translation
of a point or shape; the top number describes the horizontal
movement, while the bottom number describes the vertical
movement
common a number that is a factor of two or more different numbers
factor
compare look at and see what is the same or different

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 comparison to look at how things are the same or different
complementary two events are complementary if one of them must happen and
event they cannot both happen
congruent identical in shape and size
conjecture a possible value based on what you know
constant a number on its own (with no variable)
construct use given information to write an equation
(algebra)
construct use given information to draw shapes, angles or lines in diagrams
(geometry) using compasses and a ruler
continuous data that can take any value within a given range
data
corresponding two equal angles formed by parallel lines and a transversal
angles
cross-section the 2D face formed by slicing through a solid shape
cube root the cube root of a number produces the given number when it is
cubed; for example, the cube root of 125 is 5, because 53 is 125
decimal a number in the counting system based on 10; a number with at
number least one digit after the decimal point; the part before the decimal
point is a whole number, while the part after the decimal point is
a decimal fraction
decimal places the number of digits after the decimal point
(d.p.)
degree of the level of accuracy in any rounding
accuracy
derive construct a formula
diameter a straight line between two points on the circumference of a
circle (or surface of a sphere) that passes through the centre of
the circle (or sphere)
disadvantages bad points
discrete data data that can only take exact values
enlargement a transformation that increases or decreases the size of a shape to
produce a mathematically similar shape
equation an equation contains an unknown number. It must have
an equals sign, and it can be solved to find the value of the
unknown number
equation of a when a function is used to draw a line, the function is called the
line equation of the line
equivalent equal in value
equivalent a calculation which uses a different method but gives exactly the
calculation same answer
equivalent a decimal number that has the same value as a fraction
decimal
estimation approximation of an answer, based on a calculation with
rounded numbers

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 expand multiply all parts of an expression inside the brackets by the term
brackets directly in front of the bracket
experimental a probability resulting from an experiment involving a large
probability number of trials
expression a collection of symbols representing numbers and mathematical
operations, but not including an equals sign (=)
exterior angle the angle formed by extending one of the sides of a triangle
of a triangle
factor a whole number that divides exactly into another whole number
factor tree a method of finding prime factors
factorisations expressions that have been factorised
factorise write an algebraic expression as a product of factors
formula an equation that shows the relationship between two or more
quantities
formulae plural of formula
frequency any diagram that shows frequencies
diagram
front view, a 2D drawing of a solid shape seen from the front
front elevation
function a relationship between two sets of numbers
function a method of showing a function
machine
generalise use a set of results to make a general rule
generate make or form
geometric an adjective meaning that something relates to geometry
gradient the slope of a line; a positive gradient slopes up from left to right;
a negative gradient slopes down from left to right
grouped data where data values are recorded in groups, rather than as
individual values
HCF an abbreviation for highest common factor
hierarchy a system in which things are arranged in order of their
importance
highest the largest number, and/or letters, that is a factor of two or more
common factor other numbers or expressions
(HCF)
hypotenuse the longest side of a right-angled triangle, opposite the right angle
image a shape after a transformation
improper a fraction in which the numerator is larger than the denominator
fraction
improve make better/easier
index the number of times a number is multiplied; 73 = 7 × 7 × 7 = 243,
so the index is 3; the plural of index is indices
inequality a relationship between two expressions that are not equal
input a number that goes into a function machine

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 integer a whole number that can be positive or negative or zero, with no
fractional parts
inverse the operation that has the opposite effect to another operation; for
example, the inverse of ‘multiply by 5’ is ‘divide by 5’
inverse the equation that reverses a function
function
inverse the operation that reverses the effect of another operation
operation
investigate explore an idea or method
justify give a reason to support your decision
kilometre measure of distance, approximately 58 of a mile
LCM an abbreviation for lowest common multiple
line segment a part of a straight line between two points
linear an expression with at least one variable, where the highest power
expression of any variable is 1
linear function a function of the form y = mx + c where m and c are numbers
lines of a line of symmetry divides a shape into two parts, where each
symmetry part is the mirror image of the other
lowest common the smallest positive integer that is a multiple of two or more
multiple positive integers
(LCM)
map the process of changing an input number to an output number
using a function
mapping a type of diagram that represents a function
diagram
mean an average of a set of values, found by adding all the values and
dividing the total by the number of values in the set
median the middle number when a set of numbers is put in order
mentally a mental method, worked out in your head
midpoint the centre point of a line segment
mile measure of distance, approximately 8 of a kilometre
5
mirror line a line dividing a diagram into two parts, each part being a mirror
image of the other
mixed number a number which is the sum of a whole number and a proper
fraction
mode the most common number in a set of numbers
multiplier a number by which you multiply a given value
natural 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, ...
numbers
net a flat diagram that can be folded to form a 3D shape
nth term the general term of a sequence where n represents the position
number of the term
object a shape before a transformation

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 one-step a function that has only one mathematical operation
function
order arrange in a particular pattern, for example, from the smallest to
the biggest
output a number that comes out of a function machine
partitioning a method of multiplying two numbers where the units, tens,
hundreds, etc. in one of the numbers are multiplied separately by
the other number
percentage the decrease in the value of a number, written as a percentage of
decrease the original value
percentage the increase in the value of a number, written as a percentage of
increase the original value
pi (π) the ratio of the circumference of a circle to the diameter of the
circle
pie chart a circle divided into sectors, where each sector represents its share
of the whole
place value the value of a digit in a number based on its position in relation
to the decimal point
plot put points on a graph in order to draw a line
population all the possible people from whom you choose a sample
position the position of a term in a sequence of numbers
number
position-to- a rule that allows you to calculate any term in a sequence, given
term rule its position number
power 2 × 2 × 2 = 23 is called ‘2 cubed’ or ‘2 to the power 3’
prime factor a factor that is a prime number
prism a solid 3D shape that has the same cross-section along its length
profit a gain in money; you make a profit if you sell something for
more than you paid for it
proportion amount compared to the whole thing, usually written as a
fraction, decimal or percentage
proportions fractions (or percentages) of the whole
quadrilateral a flat shape with four straight sides
radius a straight line from the circumference of a circle (or surface of a
sphere) to the centre of a circle (or sphere)
range the difference between the largest and smallest numbers
in a set
ratio an amount compared to another amount, using the symbol :
rational numbers that can be written as fractions; this includes all integers
numbers
reciprocal the multiplier of a number that gives 1 as the result; for example,
the reciprocal of 2 is 1 because 1 × 2 = 1
2 2
recurring in a recurring decimal, a digit or group of digits is repeated
decimal forever
reflect draw the image of a shape as seen in a mirror

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 regular a 2D shape with three or more straight sides, where all the sides are
polygon equal in length and all internal angles are the same size
reverse a method of checking your answer by working backwards
calculation through the calculation using inverse operations
rotational a shape has rotational symmetry if, in one full turn, it fits exactly
symmetry onto its original position at least twice
round make an approximation of a number, to a given degree of
accuracy
scale factor the ratio by which a length is increased (or decreased)
sector a portion of a circle made from two radii and the part of the
circumference that joins them
semicircle half a circle
sequence of patterns made from shapes; the number of shapes in each pattern
patterns forms a sequence of numbers
shades a colour which is lighter or darker than a similar colour
share to split up into parts
short division a method of division where remainders are simply placed in front
of the following digit
side view, side a 2D drawing of a solid shape seen from the side
elevation
significant the first significant figure is the first non-zero digit in a number;
figures (s.f.) for example, 2 is the first significant figure in both 2146 and
0.000 024
simplified written in its simplest form
simplify (a ratio) divide all parts of the ratio by a common factor
solve find the value (or values) of the unknown letter (or letters) in an
equation
square root the square root of a number multiplied by itself gives that
number; for example, the square root of 36 is 6 or −6
stem-and-leaf a way of displaying data, similar to a horizontal bar graph but
diagram with sets of digits, in order of size, forming the bars
strategies methods
subject of a the letter on its own on one side (usually the left) of the formula
formula
substitute replace part of an expression, usually a letter, with another value,
usually a number
surface area the total area of the faces of a 3D shape
term a single number or variable, or numbers and variables multiplied
together
terminating a decimal number that does not go on forever
decimal
term-to-term a rule to find a term of a sequence, given the previous term
rule

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 theoretical probability calculated on the basis of equally likely outcomes.
probability It is equal to the number of favourable outcomes divided by the
total number of possible outcomes.
time series a series of points, plotted at regular time intervals, joined by
graph straight lines
top view, plan a 2D drawing of a solid shape seen from above
view
translate transform a shape by moving each part of the shape the same
distance in the same direction
transversal a line that crosses two or more parallel lines
trapezia plural of trapezium
trend a pattern in a set of data
two-step a function that has two mathematical operations
function
unit fraction a fraction that has a numerator of 1
unknown a letter in an equation for which the value is yet to be found
upside down when you turn a fraction upside down you swap the numerator
and the denominator, so 2 turned upside down is 3
3 2
variable a symbol, usually a letter, that can represent different values
vertically two equal angles formed where two straight lines cross
opposite
angles
written worked out on paper
method
x-intercept the value of x where the graph of a line crosses the x-axis
y-intercept the value of y where the graph of a line crosses the y-axis

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