Math Resource

Compiled here is a list of math terms that may be useful to know. The list is in alphabetical order, but you may also use Cmd + F or Ctrl + F to search terms directly!

Terms

Average

The sum of a group of numbers divided by the size of the group; also known as a mean.

Given the set of numbers [1, 2, 3, 4, 5], the average is (1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + 5) / 5 = 3

Decimal

A number with fractional components expressed based on tenths and powers of ten.

0.1, 2.12, 132.324

Denominator

The bottom number in a fraction.

In the fraction 3/5, 5 is the denominator.

Equation

A statement representing an equality of expressions.

2x + 7 = 19

Even

A number divisible by 2.

2, 4, 6, 8, etc.

Expression

A statement representing numbers and operations between numbers.

3x + 2

Factor

An integer that divides into another number without a remainder.

1, 3, 5, and 15 are the factors of the number 15.

Frequency

The number of times a given instance occurs within a set.

The frequency of the number 2 within the numbers [1, 1, 2, 2, 2, 4, 5, 5, 5, 5, 6, 7] is 3.

Greatest Common Factor

The largest factor that all numbers within a set share.

Given the set of numbers [12, 15, 24, 51], the greatest common factor is 3.

Integer

Numbers that can be written without fractional components.

0, 1, 2, 3, -1, -2, -3

Least Common Multiple

The smallest number that is a multiple of all of the numbers within set.

Given the set of numbers [3, 5, 9, 15], the least common multiple would be 45.

Logarithm

The power to which a number (base) must be raised to produce a given number.

Given the equation 2^x = 16, a logarithm would be used to solve for x where the logarithm of 16 with 2 as a base is x, or log2 16 = x. This would evaluate to x = 4.

Mean

The sum of a group of numbers divided by the size of the group; also known as the average.

Given a set of numbers [0, 5, 10, 15, 20], the mean would be (0 + 5 + 10 + 15 + 20) / 5, which equals 10.

Median

The middle number in a sorted set of numbers. When there is an even number of values within the set, the median is the average of the two middle values.

Given the set of numbers [1, 2, 2, 5, 7, 9, 11], the median would be 5.

Given the set of numbers [1, 1, 4, 18, 21, 25], the median would be the average of 4 and 18, which would be (4 + 18) / 2 = 11.

Mode

The most commonly occurring number within a set. There can be multiple modes in a given set.

Given the set [2, 2, 3, 3, 3, 4, 5, 7, 7, 7, 7, 8], the mode is 7, which appears 4 times.

Given the set [1, 5, 5, 5, 6, 9, 9, 9], the modes are 5 and 9, which both appear 3 times.

Multiple

A number that can be divided by another number--a factor--without remainder.

The multiples of 15 are: 15, 30, 45, 60, 75, 90, etc.

Numerator

The top number in a fraction.

In the fraction 3/5, 3 is the numerator.

Odd

A number that is NOT divisible by 2.

1, 3, 5, 7, etc.

Prime Number

A whole number greater than 1 that is divisible only by 1 and itself.

2, 3, 19, 23, 53

Product

The result of a multiplication operation.

In the equation 5 * 10 = 50, 50 is the product.

Quotient

The result of a division operation.

In the equation 56 / 7 = 8, 8 is the quotient.

Range

The difference between the maximum and minimum of a set of numbers.

In the set [1, 6, 12, 51], the range is 51 - 1, which is 50.

Remainder

The number left over when a number is not divided evenly.

50 / 7 = 7 with a remainder of 1.

Square

The product that results when a number is multiplied by itself.

The square of 6 is 36, because 6 * 6 = 36.

Square Root

A number that, when multiplied by itself, will produce a given square number.

The square root of 49 is 7, because 7 * 7 = 49.