MAT091 Basic Math Skills
Chapter #1 Vocabulary
In order to demonstrate that you know and understand the meaning of a word or phrase you
should be able to do each of the following:
1. Write a complete and correct definition for the word.
2. Recognize its definition (and identify the word or phrase defined).
3. Identify an example that illustrates the meaning of the word or phrase.
4. Make up an example to illustrate the meaning of the word or phrase.
Note: For some of the words below, an alternate definition is shown in brackets [ ] after the
standard definition. In many cases, these alternates simply use more familiar (less technical)
language, so they may be easier to understand. In other cases, the definition in brackets describes
the meaning from a slightly different perspective.
Counting Numbers: the numbers 1, 2, 3, 4…
Natural Numbers: (same as counting numbers) 1, 2, 3, 4…
Whole Numbers: the numbers 0, 1, 2, 3, 4…
Digit: one of the first ten whole numbers (0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, or 9).
Graph (verb): "Draw a picture or diagram illustrating a mathematical idea or relationship."
Place Value: the meaning of a digit's position in a number.
Period: a group of three digits, separated from other digits by commas, in a number
containing several digits.
Rounding: finding a more convenient number that means approximately the same as a
given number.
Addend: one of the numbers added together in an addition example.
Sum: the result of addition [the answer in an addition example].
Additive Identity Property (or the Addition Property of Zero): "When zero is added to any
given number, the sum is that given number." [alternatively, "Adding zero to any number
leaves that number alone."]
Commutative Law of Addition: "Changing the order of two or more addends doesn’t affect
their sum."
Associative Law of Addition: "Changing the grouping of three or more addends does not
affect their sum."
Minuend: the first number in a subtraction example [the number you start with, before
taking something away].
Subtrahend: the second number in a subtraction example [the number taken away from
something else].
Difference: the result of subtraction [the answer in a subtraction example].
Factor (noun): one of the numbers being multiplied together in a multiplication example
[also see factor in Ch.2].
Product: the result of multiplication [the answer in a multiplication example].
Multiplication Property of Zero: "When any number is multiplied by zero, the product is
zero."
Multiplicative Identity Property (Multiplication Property of One): "When any given
number is multiplied by one, the product is that given number." [alternatively, "Multiplying
a number by one leaves the number alone."]
Commutative Law of Multiplication: "Changing the order of two or more factors does not
affect their product."
Associative Law of Multiplication: "Changing the grouping of three or more factors does
not affect their product."
Dividend: the first number in a division example [the number separated into equal sized
groups or equal sized pieces].
Divisor: the second number in a division example [the number doing the dividing].
Quotient: the result of division [the answer in a division example].
Remainder: the part of the original amount left over after a dividend is separated into a
whole number of equal sized groups or pieces.
Undefined: the result of trying to divide a number by zero [no correct quotient exists].
Exponential notation: a short way of writing a multiplication example (in which all the
factors are the same number) using a base and an exponent.
Base: In exponential notation, the base is the number that acts as a repeated factor.
Exponent: a number that tells how many times a base should be used as a repeated factor.
Power: (same as exponent).
Squared: 2 is the exponent [a number multiplied by itself].
Cubed: 3 is the exponent [a number is used as a factor 3 times].
Grouping Symbols: parentheses, brackets and braces are common examples of grouping
symbols. Fraction bars, absolute value bars and radical signs also act as grouping symbols
in addition to their regular roles of signaling special operations (division, absolute value or
taking square roots).
Parentheses: ( )
Brackets: [ ]
Braces: { }
Evaluate: "Find one number that has the same value (meaning) as the entire expression."
[alternatively, "Do all operations until you come up with just one number as the answer."]
Order of operations Agreement: when evaluating a numerical expression,
1. Do all operations inside parentheses or other grouping symbols
2. Evaluate exponential expressions [Use exponents]
3. Do all multiplications/divisions as they occur from left to right
4. Do all additions/subtractions as they occur from left to right
Factor a Number (verb): "Write a multiplication example (made up of whole numbers) for
which the given number is the product."
Divisible: one number is divisible by a second number if there is no remainder when the
first number is divided by the second number (the division "comes out evenly").
Prime: a counting (natural) number, greater than 1, whose only factors are itself and one.
Composite: a counting (natural) number, greater than 1, which has at least three different
factors (i.e., it is not prime).
Prime Factorization: a way of writing a number as a product (a multiplication example) in
which all the factors are prime numbers.