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adjacent
(adjective)
(Latin)
1. Adjacent angles share a vertex and one arm.
2. Adjacent sides of a polygon share a vertex.
calculate
(verb)
(Latin – count)
To work out mathematically.
co-ordinate
(noun)
(Latin)
A set of numbers used to define a position
with respect to a frame of reference.
denominator
(noun)
(Latin)
The number below the line in a vulgar
fraction. It is the divisor of the number
above the line (the numerator).
digit
(noun)
(Latin - digitus: finger or toe)
Any one of the basic counting symbols in
a number system.
divide
(verb)
(Latin – divider : to separate)
To find out how many times a number
contains another number.
division
(noun)
(Latin – divisio: related to divide)
The process of dividing one number by another. The
inverse of multiplication. The division of one whole
number by another whole number does not always
give a whole number.
equilateral
(adjective)
(Latin - aequus : equal, : a side)
Having all sides of equal length. A
square and a rhombus are equilateral.
equation
(noun)
(Latin – aequatus: made equal)
A statement that two mathematical
expressions have equal value.
isosceles
(adjective)
(Greek – isos : equal, skelos : leg)
Having two sides equal e.g. isosceles
triangle, isosceles trapezium.
multiply
(verb)
(Latin)
To combine one number with another by
multiplication, giving a product.
Multiplication
(noun)
(Latin – multiplicare:
to make many folds)
The process of adding a whole number to
itself a certain number of times. The
inverse of multiplication is division.
parallel
(adjective)
(Greek – para : beside,
allelo : one another)
Two lines lying in the same plane and never
meeting – everywhere the same distance apart.
parallelogram
(noun)
(Greek – para: beside,
allelo : one another,
gramma : something written)
Quadrilateral with opposite sides parallel. Opposite
sides are equal as well as parallel. Their opposite angles
are equal and their diagonals bisect each other.
negative
(adjective)
(Latin – negare : to say no)
A number less than zero. On the number line a negative
number is usually left of zero and a positive number is
to the right of zero. A negative number has a minus sign
in front of it.
numerator
(noun)
(Latin – numerous : a number)
The number above the line in a vulgar
fraction e.g. the numerator in ¾ is 3.
perimeter
(noun)
(Greek – peri : around,
metron : measure)
The boundary of a plane figure, or the length of this
boundary e.g. the perimeter of a rectangle is the sum of
its four sides; the perimeter of a circle is its
circumference.
perpendicular
(adjective e.g. a perpendicular angle or
noun e.g. the perpendicular)
(Latin – perpendiculum :
a plumb-line)
At right angles.
quadrilateral
(noun)
(Latin – quadri : four,
latus : a side)
Any plane figure which has four straight sides.
regular
(adjective)
(Latin – regularis : of a ruler)
1. A regular polygon has equal sides and equal angles.
2. A regular polyhedron has identical polygon-shaped
faces and equal angles between adjacent faces.