maths glossary

Choose a maths word or symbol, then read its meaning and example.

practise words

acute angle

space

an angle smaller than a right angle

definition

An acute angle is smaller than 90 degrees.

example

A narrow slice of pizza can have an acute angle at the tip.

remember

acute is a small angle

Maths glossary words and definitions

This static glossary is generated from the Daily Maths Review word list so the terms, meanings and examples are readable before the interactive app finishes loading.

symbols

brackets

symbols

marks that group part of a calculation

definition
Brackets show which part of a calculation should be worked out first.
example
2 x (3 + 4) means add 3 and 4 first.
remember
brackets wrap around the part that stays together

decimal point

symbols

a dot that separates ones from tenths

definition
A decimal point separates whole numbers from parts smaller than one.
example
4.7 means 4 ones and 7 tenths.
remember
places to the right are parts of one whole

division sign

symbols

a sign that tells you to divide

definition
The division sign means share equally or make equal groups.
example
12 ÷ 3 means share 12 into 3 equal groups.
remember
each group must be fair and equal

equals sign

symbols

a sign that means both sides have the same value

definition
The equals sign shows that the value on one side matches the value on the other side.
example
6 + 4 = 10 means both sides are worth 10.
remember
read it as is the same value as

fraction bar

symbols

the line between the top and bottom numbers in a fraction

definition
The fraction bar separates the numerator and denominator and can also mean divide.
example
3/4 means 3 parts out of 4 equal parts.
remember
top tells how many, bottom tells the size of the parts

greater than sign

symbols

a sign that points to the smaller number

definition
The greater than sign shows that the number on the left is larger.
example
9 > 4 means 9 is greater than 4.
remember
the wide open side faces the larger number

less than sign

symbols

a sign that points to the smaller number

definition
The less than sign shows that the number on the left is smaller.
example
3 < 8 means 3 is less than 8.
remember
the point faces the smaller number

minus sign

symbols

a sign that tells you to subtract

definition
The minus sign means take away or find the difference.
example
8 - 3 means start with 8 and take away 3.
remember
look for something being taken away or compared

multiplication sign

symbols

a sign that tells you to multiply

definition
The multiplication sign means combine equal groups.
example
4 × 3 means 4 groups of 3.
remember
think equal groups, rows or repeated adding

plus sign

symbols

a sign that tells you to add

definition
The plus sign means put amounts together or count on.
example
3 + 2 means 3 and 2 more, which makes 5.
remember
look for parts being joined together

operations

add

operations

join amounts together

definition
To add means to join amounts together to find the total.
example
5 add 6 is 11.
remember
count on or join groups

array

operations

objects in equal rows and columns

definition
An array is a set of objects arranged in equal rows and columns.
example
3 rows of 5 dots make an array of 15 dots.
remember
arrays help you see multiplication

difference

operations

how far apart two numbers are

definition
The difference is the amount between two numbers.
example
The difference between 12 and 8 is 4.
remember
subtract to compare the gap

divide

operations

share or group equally

definition
To divide means to share into equal groups or find how many equal groups can be made.
example
20 divided by 5 is 4.
remember
fair shares have no group missing out

equal groups

operations

groups with the same amount in each

definition
Equal groups all have the same number of items.
example
4 groups of 3 counters are equal groups.
remember
check every group has the same amount

factor

operations

a number that multiplies to make another number

definition
A factor is a number that can be multiplied by another factor to make a product.
example
3 and 4 are factors of 12.
remember
factors fit into a multiplication fact

multiple

operations

a number in a skip-counting pattern

definition
A multiple is a number you say when skip-counting by another number.
example
5, 10, 15 and 20 are multiples of 5.
remember
multiples come from counting by the same step

multiply

operations

combine equal groups

definition
To multiply means to combine equal groups to find a total.
example
3 groups of 4 makes 12.
remember
each group must have the same amount

product

operations

the answer to multiplication

definition
The product is the answer when numbers are multiplied.
example
In 6 x 4 = 24, the product is 24.
remember
product belongs with multiplying

quotient

operations

the answer to division

definition
The quotient is the answer when one number is divided by another.
example
In 18 ÷ 3 = 6, the quotient is 6.
remember
quotient belongs with dividing

remainder

operations

what is left over after equal sharing

definition
The remainder is the amount left over after making equal groups.
example
14 ÷ 3 is 4 remainder 2.
remember
a remainder is not enough to make another full group

subtract

operations

take away or find the difference

definition
To subtract means to take one amount away from another, or compare two amounts.
example
12 subtract 5 is 7.
remember
start with the whole amount first

total

operations

the amount altogether

definition
The total is the amount altogether after parts are joined.
example
The total of 6 and 7 is 13.
remember
total means all of it together

number

ascending order

number

from smallest to largest

definition
Ascending order means numbers are arranged from smallest to largest.
example
2, 5, 9, 12 is ascending order.
remember
ascending goes up

composite number

number

a number with more than two factors

definition
A composite number has more than two factors.
example
12 is composite because 1, 2, 3, 4, 6 and 12 are factors.
remember
composite numbers can be made with smaller factors

descending order

number

from largest to smallest

definition
Descending order means numbers are arranged from largest to smallest.
example
15, 10, 6, 1 is descending order.
remember
descending goes down

digit

number

one symbol used to write numbers

definition
A digit is one symbol used to write numbers.
example
4, 0 and 9 are digits.
remember
digits build numbers

estimate

number

a sensible close answer

definition
An estimate is a sensible answer that is close, but not exact.
example
49 + 21 is about 70.
remember
estimate before checking exactly

even number

number

a whole number that can be shared into two equal groups

definition
An even number can be shared into two equal groups with none left over.
example
8 is even because 4 and 4 make 8.
remember
even numbers end in 0, 2, 4, 6 or 8

odd number

number

a whole number that cannot be shared into two equal groups

definition
An odd number has one left over when shared into two equal groups.
example
7 is odd because 3 and 3 leaves 1 extra.
remember
odd numbers end in 1, 3, 5, 7 or 9

place value

number

the value of a digit because of its place

definition
Place value tells what a digit is worth because of where it is in a number.
example
In 358, the 3 means 3 hundreds.
remember
same digit, different place, different value

prime number

number

a number with exactly two factors

definition
A prime number has exactly two factors: 1 and itself.
example
7 is prime because only 1 and 7 divide into it exactly.
remember
1 is not a prime number

round

number

change to a nearby easier number

definition
To round means to change a number to a nearby easier number.
example
47 rounds to 50 to the nearest ten.
remember
look at the next digit to decide

fractions and decimals

decimal

fractions and decimals

a number with parts smaller than one whole

definition
A decimal uses a decimal point to show parts smaller than one whole.
example
0.5 is the same as one half.
remember
decimals use tenths, hundredths and smaller parts

denominator

fractions and decimals

the bottom number in a fraction

definition
The denominator tells how many equal parts make the whole.
example
In 3/5, the denominator is 5.
remember
denominator is down the bottom

equivalent fraction

fractions and decimals

a fraction with the same value as another fraction

definition
Equivalent fractions have the same value even though the numbers look different.
example
1/2 and 2/4 are equivalent fractions.
remember
same amount, different names

fraction

fractions and decimals

part of a whole or part of a group

definition
A fraction shows part of a whole or part of a group.
example
3/4 means 3 out of 4 equal parts.
remember
the parts must be equal

non-unit fraction

fractions and decimals

a fraction with more than 1 on top

definition
A non-unit fraction has a numerator greater than 1.
example
3/5 and 7/10 are non-unit fractions.
remember
non-unit means more than one part

numerator

fractions and decimals

the top number in a fraction

definition
The numerator tells how many equal parts are being used.
example
In 3/5, the numerator is 3.
remember
numerator is on the top

percentage

fractions and decimals

a number out of 100

definition
A percentage tells how many parts out of 100.
example
25% means 25 out of 100.
remember
per cent means out of one hundred

unit fraction

fractions and decimals

a fraction with 1 on top

definition
A unit fraction has 1 as the numerator.
example
1/3 and 1/8 are unit fractions.
remember
unit means one part

space

acute angle

space

an angle smaller than a right angle

definition
An acute angle is smaller than 90 degrees.
example
A narrow slice of pizza can have an acute angle at the tip.
remember
acute is a small angle

angle

space

the amount of turn between two lines

definition
An angle is the amount of turn between two lines that meet.
example
A square corner is a right angle.
remember
angles are about turning

obtuse angle

space

an angle bigger than a right angle but smaller than a straight line

definition
An obtuse angle is bigger than 90 degrees and smaller than 180 degrees.
example
A wide open door can make an obtuse angle.
remember
obtuse opens wider than a square corner

parallel lines

space

lines that stay the same distance apart

definition
Parallel lines go in the same direction and never meet.
example
Train tracks look like parallel lines.
remember
parallel lines keep the same gap

perpendicular lines

space

lines that meet at a right angle

definition
Perpendicular lines meet to make a right angle.
example
The sides of a plus sign are perpendicular.
remember
look for the square corner where they meet

reflection

space

a flip

definition
A reflection flips a shape over a mirror line.
example
A shape reflected in a mirror faces the other way.
remember
reflection means flip

right angle

space

a square corner angle

definition
A right angle is a square corner that measures 90 degrees.
example
The corner of a book is usually a right angle.
remember
look for a neat square corner

rotation

space

a turn

definition
A rotation turns a shape around a point.
example
Turning a square one quarter turn is a rotation.
remember
rotation means turn

symmetry

space

when one part matches another part

definition
A shape has symmetry when one part matches another part after a flip, turn or slide.
example
A square has lines of symmetry.
remember
matching sides are the clue

transformation

space

moving or changing a shape

definition
A transformation moves or changes a shape by translating, reflecting or rotating it.
example
Sliding a triangle to the right is a transformation.
remember
the shape changes position or direction

translation

space

a slide

definition
A translation slides a shape without turning or flipping it.
example
Moving a rectangle 3 spaces right is a translation.
remember
translation means slide

vertex

space

a corner point

definition
A vertex is a corner point where sides or edges meet.
example
A triangle has 3 vertices.
remember
vertices is the plural of vertex

measurement

area

measurement

how much flat space a shape covers

definition
Area is the amount of flat space inside a shape.
example
A rectangle that covers 12 square units has an area of 12 square units.
remember
area covers the inside

capacity

measurement

how much a container can hold

definition
Capacity tells how much liquid or material a container can hold.
example
A bottle might hold 1 litre.
remember
capacity belongs with containers

length

measurement

how long something is

definition
Length tells how long something is from one end to another.
example
A pencil might be 14 centimetres long.
remember
measure length along a line

mass

measurement

how heavy something is

definition
Mass tells how heavy something is.
example
A bag of apples might have a mass of 1 kilogram.
remember
grams and kilograms measure mass

perimeter

measurement

the distance around the outside

definition
Perimeter is the distance around the outside of a shape.
example
Walk around the edge to trace the perimeter.
remember
perimeter goes around

volume

measurement

how much space a 3D object takes up

definition
Volume is the amount of space inside or taken up by a 3D object.
example
A box can have a volume of 24 cubic units.
remember
volume uses cubes or cubic units

time

calendar

time

a display of days, weeks and months

definition
A calendar shows dates, weekdays, weeks and months.
example
You can use a calendar to find the date next Friday.
remember
calendars organise days

elapsed time

time

how much time passes

definition
Elapsed time is the amount of time from the start to the finish.
example
From 2:00 to 2:45 is 45 minutes of elapsed time.
remember
count the time that passed

timetable

time

a table that shows events and times

definition
A timetable shows when events start or finish.
example
A bus timetable can show a bus leaving at 8:15.
remember
read the row and column carefully

data and chance

bar graph

data and chance

a graph that uses bars

definition
A bar graph uses bars to show and compare data.
example
The tallest bar shows the greatest amount.
remember
compare the height or length of the bars

chance

data and chance

how likely something is to happen

definition
Chance tells how likely something is to happen.
example
It is impossible to roll a 7 on a normal six-sided die.
remember
chance words include impossible, unlikely, likely and certain

data

data and chance

information collected to answer a question

definition
Data is information that has been collected and can be sorted, counted or compared.
example
Favourite fruit votes are data.
remember
data helps answer questions

graph

data and chance

a picture that shows data

definition
A graph organises data so it can be read and compared.
example
A graph can show which sport has the most votes.
remember
read the title, labels and scale

outcome

data and chance

one possible result

definition
An outcome is one possible result of an event.
example
Rolling a 4 is one outcome when rolling a die.
remember
list all possible outcomes to check chance

probability

data and chance

a number that describes chance

definition
Probability is a number, fraction or percentage that describes how likely something is.
example
The probability of flipping heads on a fair coin is 1/2.
remember
probability measures chance

tally

data and chance

marks used for counting

definition
Tallies are counting marks that are usually grouped in fives.
example
Four straight marks and one crossing mark show 5.
remember
group tallies in fives to count faster