Math Dictionary
Clear, concise definitions for everyday and advanced mathematical terms, with links into CalculatorWiser’s formulas, calculators, and learning paths.
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178 matching terms
10-gonA polygon with 10 sides.Geometry11-gonA polygon with 11 sides.Geometry12-gonA polygon with 12 sides.Geometry13-gonA polygon with 13 sides.Geometry14-gonA polygon with 14 sides.Geometry15-gonA polygon with 15 sides.Geometry16-gonA polygon with 16 sides.Geometry17-gonA polygon with 17 sides.Geometry18-gonA polygon with 18 sides.Geometry19-gonA polygon with 19 sides.Geometry2-gonA polygon with 2 sides.Geometry20-gonA polygon with 20 sides.Geometry3-gonA polygon with 3 sides.Geometry4-gonA polygon with 4 sides.Geometry5-gonA polygon with 5 sides.Geometry6-gonA polygon with 6 sides.Geometry7-gonA polygon with 7 sides.Geometry8-gonA polygon with 8 sides.Geometry9-gonA polygon with 9 sides.GeometryAbsolute ValueDistance of a number from zero on the number line, written |x|.FoundationsAcute AngleAn angle greater than 0° and less than 90°.GeometryAffine TransformationA transformation combining a linear transformation with a translation.GeometryAlgorithmA finite, well-defined procedure for solving a problem or performing a calculation.FoundationsAltitudeA perpendicular segment from a vertex to the opposite side or its extension.FoundationsAmplitudeMaximum displacement from a midline in a periodic function or wave.TrigonometryAngleA figure formed by two rays sharing a common endpoint.GeometryArcA connected portion of a circle or other curve.FoundationsAreaA measure of the two-dimensional region enclosed by a shape.GeometryAsymptoteA line or curve that another curve approaches according to a limiting relationship.FoundationsAverageA representative value; often the arithmetic mean, though median and mode are also averages in common usage.FoundationsAxiomA statement accepted as a starting assumption within a formal mathematical system.FoundationsAxisA reference line used in a coordinate system or around which symmetry or rotation is described.FoundationsBaseA number used in exponentiation or a place-value system; also a designated side of a geometric figure.FoundationsBijectionA function that is both one-to-one and onto.FoundationsBinaryA base-2 numeral system using digits 0 and 1.Numbers & Number TheoryBinomialA polynomial with exactly two nonzero terms.AlgebraBisectorA line, ray, or segment that divides an angle or segment into two equal parts.FoundationsCardinalityA measure of the size of a set.FoundationsCentroidThe intersection point of a triangle’s medians; also a geometric center or average position.GeometryChordA segment whose endpoints lie on a circle or curve.GeometryCoefficientA numerical factor multiplying a variable or term.AlgebraCombinationA selection in which order does not matter.FoundationsComplex NumberA number of the form a+bi, where i²=−1.Numbers & Number TheoryComposite NumberA positive integer greater than 1 that has more than two positive divisors.FoundationsConcaveCurving inward; for polygons, having at least one interior angle greater than 180°.FoundationsCongruentHaving the same size and shape, or equal measure in a stated geometric sense.FoundationsConstantA quantity whose value does not change within the context of a problem.FoundationsConvexA set or shape containing every line segment between any two of its points.FoundationsCoordinateA number that locates a point relative to a coordinate system.FoundationsCorrelationA measure of the strength and direction of association between variables.Statistics & ProbabilityCosineFor a right triangle, adjacent side divided by hypotenuse; also a periodic trigonometric function.TrigonometryCovarianceA measure of how two variables vary together.Statistics & ProbabilityCubicA polynomial or equation of degree 3.FoundationsDecimalA base-10 numeral representation that may include digits to the right of a decimal point.Numbers & Number TheoryDenominatorThe bottom number in a fraction, indicating the number of equal parts in a whole.FoundationsDerivativeA function or value describing instantaneous rate of change or local slope.Calculus & AnalysisDeterminantA scalar computed from a square matrix with important geometric and algebraic meanings.FoundationsDiameterA chord through the center of a circle; its length is twice the radius.GeometryDifferenceThe result of subtraction.FoundationsDigitA symbol used to write numbers in a numeral system.Numbers & Number TheoryDiscriminantFor a quadratic ax²+bx+c, the expression b²−4ac, which helps classify the roots.FoundationsDistributionA description of how values or probabilities are spread across possible outcomes.Statistics & ProbabilityDomainThe set of allowed input values for a function or relation.FoundationsEigenvalueA scalar λ such that Av=λv for some nonzero vector v.Linear AlgebraEigenvectorA nonzero vector whose direction is preserved by a linear transformation, up to scaling.Linear AlgebraEllipseThe set of points whose total distance to two fixed foci is constant.GeometryEmpty SetThe set containing no elements, denoted ∅.FoundationsEquationA statement asserting that two expressions are equal.AlgebraEquilateral TriangleA triangle with three equal side lengths.GeometryExponentA number indicating repeated multiplication or, more generally, a power operation.AlgebraExpressionA mathematical combination of numbers, variables, operators, and functions that represents a value.AlgebraFactorA quantity multiplied with another quantity to form a product; for integers, a divisor with no remainder.Numbers & Number TheoryFactorialFor a nonnegative integer n, the product n(n−1)…1, written n!, with 0!=1.Numbers & Number TheoryFinite SetA set with a finite number of elements.FoundationsFractalA geometric object exhibiting structure at many scales, often with non-integer dimension.FoundationsFractionA number written as a quotient of two integers, with a nonzero denominator.FoundationsFrequencyThe number of repetitions of a periodic event per unit time, or a count of occurrences in data.TrigonometryFunctionA rule or relation assigning each input in its domain exactly one output.AlgebraGeometryThe branch of mathematics concerned with shape, size, position, space, and related properties.FoundationsGradientA vector of partial derivatives of a scalar field; in some contexts, another name for slope.Calculus & AnalysisGraphA visual representation of mathematical relationships, data, or networks.FoundationsGreatest Common DivisorThe largest positive integer dividing each of two or more integers.FoundationsHyperbolaThe set of points for which the absolute difference of distances to two fixed foci is constant.GeometryHypotenuseThe side opposite the right angle in a right triangle; it is the longest side.FoundationsIdentityAn equality true for all values in its stated domain.FoundationsInequalityA comparison using symbols such as <, >, ≤, or ≥ rather than equality.FoundationsInfinityA concept describing unboundedness rather than an ordinary real number.FoundationsInjective FunctionA one-to-one function: distinct inputs have distinct outputs.AlgebraIntegerA whole number that may be negative, zero, or positive.Numbers & Number TheoryIntegralA mathematical object representing accumulation; definite integrals can represent signed area and total change.Calculus & AnalysisInterceptA point where a graph crosses an axis.FoundationsInverse FunctionA function that reverses another function on an appropriate domain and range.AlgebraIrrational ExponentAn exponent that is irrational; powers with such exponents are defined using limits or logarithms for positive bases.Numbers & Number TheoryIrrational NumberA real number that cannot be expressed as a ratio of two integers.Numbers & Number TheoryIsoceles TriangleA triangle with at least two equal side lengths.GeometryIsosceles TriangleA triangle with at least two equal side lengths.GeometryKernelFor a linear map, the set of inputs mapped to the zero vector.Linear AlgebraLeast Common MultipleThe smallest positive integer that is a multiple of each of two or more integers.Numbers & Number TheoryLimitThe value a function or sequence approaches as its input or index approaches a specified point or infinity.Calculus & AnalysisLineA straight one-dimensional object extending infinitely in both directions.GeometryLinear AlgebraThe study of vectors, vector spaces, matrices, and linear transformations.Linear AlgebraLinear EquationAn equation whose graph is a straight line when expressed in two variables.AlgebraLogarithmThe exponent to which a base must be raised to obtain a given positive number.AlgebraMatrixA rectangular array of numbers or other mathematical objects arranged in rows and columns.Linear AlgebraMatrix InverseA matrix A⁻¹ satisfying AA⁻¹=A⁻¹A=I when it exists.Linear AlgebraMeanUsually the arithmetic average: sum of values divided by the number of values.Statistics & ProbabilityMedianThe middle value of ordered data, or the average of the two middle values when the count is even.Statistics & ProbabilityModeThe value or category occurring most frequently in a data set.Statistics & ProbabilityModulusIn modular arithmetic, the positive integer defining equivalence classes; in some contexts, magnitude.Numbers & Number TheoryMonomialA polynomial expression consisting of one term.AlgebraMultipleA number obtained by multiplying another number by an integer.Numbers & Number TheoryNatural NumberA counting number; conventions differ on whether zero is included.Numbers & Number TheoryNegative NumberA number less than zero.FoundationsNormal DistributionA continuous bell-shaped probability distribution determined by its mean and standard deviation.Statistics & ProbabilityNumeratorThe top number in a fraction, indicating how many equal parts are being considered.FoundationsObtuse AngleAn angle greater than 90° and less than 180°.GeometryOriginThe zero point of a coordinate system, such as (0,0) in the Cartesian plane.FoundationsOrthogonalPerpendicular in Euclidean geometry; more generally, having inner product zero.GeometryParabolaThe graph of a quadratic function or the set of points equidistant from a focus and a directrix.GeometryParallelIn Euclidean geometry, lines in a plane that never meet and have the same direction.GeometryPercentA ratio expressed per hundred.FoundationsPerimeterThe total distance around a two-dimensional figure.GeometryPermutationAn arrangement or selection in which order matters.FoundationsPiThe constant π, equal to the ratio of a circle’s circumference to its diameter, approximately 3.14159.FoundationsPlaneA flat two-dimensional surface extending infinitely.GeometryPolar CoordinatesA coordinate system describing a point by distance from an origin and an angle.FoundationsPolynomialAn expression formed from variables and coefficients using addition, subtraction, multiplication, and nonnegative integer exponents.AlgebraPrime FactorizationExpression of an integer greater than 1 as a product of prime numbers.Numbers & Number TheoryPrime NumberA positive integer greater than 1 with exactly two positive divisors: 1 and itself.Numbers & Number TheoryProbabilityA numerical measure of how likely an event is, commonly ranging from 0 to 1.Statistics & ProbabilityProductThe result of multiplication.FoundationsProportionAn equation stating that two ratios are equal.FoundationsQuadraticA polynomial or equation of degree 2.AlgebraQuarticA polynomial or equation of degree 4.FoundationsQuinticA polynomial or equation of degree 5.FoundationsQuotientThe result of division.FoundationsRadianAn angle unit defined by arc length divided by radius; 2π radians is one full turn.TrigonometryRadiusA segment from the center of a circle or sphere to its boundary.GeometryRangeThe set of output values of a function; in statistics, maximum minus minimum.FoundationsRatioA comparison of two quantities by division.FoundationsRational NumberA number expressible as a ratio of integers with a nonzero denominator.Numbers & Number TheoryReal NumberA number that can be represented on the real number line.Numbers & Number TheoryReciprocalFor nonzero x, the number 1/x, whose product with x is 1.FoundationsRectangleA quadrilateral with four right angles.GeometryRecurrence RelationA rule defining sequence terms from preceding terms.FoundationsRight AngleAn angle measuring exactly 90°.GeometryRootA solution of an equation, especially a value making an expression equal zero; also a radical operation such as square root.FoundationsSampleA subset of a population used for observation or analysis.Statistics & ProbabilityScalarA quantity described by magnitude alone, or a field element used to scale vectors.Linear AlgebraScale FactorA multiplicative factor relating corresponding lengths or quantities in similar figures or models.Numbers & Number TheorySecantA line intersecting a curve at two or more points; also the reciprocal of cosine in trigonometry.GeometrySequenceAn ordered list of numbers or other objects defined by a rule or pattern.FoundationsSeriesA sum of terms of a sequence, finite or infinite.FoundationsSetA collection of distinct objects considered as a mathematical object.FoundationsSimilarHaving the same shape with proportional corresponding dimensions in geometry.FoundationsSineFor a right triangle, opposite side divided by hypotenuse; also a periodic trigonometric function.TrigonometrySlopeRate of vertical change relative to horizontal change for a line or curve at a point.FoundationsSquare RootA number y such that y² equals the given number; the principal square root is nonnegative for nonnegative real inputs.FoundationsStandard DeviationA measure of spread equal to the square root of variance.Statistics & ProbabilitySumThe result of addition.FoundationsSurjective FunctionAn onto function: every target value has at least one preimage.AlgebraSymmetryInvariance of an object under a transformation such as reflection, rotation, or translation.GeometryTangentA line touching a smooth curve locally at a point; also the trigonometric ratio sine divided by cosine.GeometryTensorA multilinear mathematical object generalizing scalars, vectors, and matrices.Linear AlgebraTermA single part of an expression or a member of a sequence.FoundationsTheoremA mathematical statement proved logically from definitions, axioms, and previously established results.FoundationsTopologyThe study of properties preserved under continuous deformation.FoundationsTranscendental NumberA number that is not a root of any nonzero polynomial with integer coefficients.FoundationsTransformationA mapping that moves or changes figures or objects, such as a translation, rotation, reflection, or dilation.GeometryTriangleA polygon with three sides.GeometryUnit CircleThe circle of radius 1 centered at the origin, widely used to define trigonometric functions.GeometryVariableA symbol representing a quantity that may change or be unknown.AlgebraVarianceThe mean squared deviation from the mean, with sample and population versions differing in denominator.Statistics & ProbabilityVectorA quantity with magnitude and direction, often represented by coordinates.Linear AlgebraVector SpaceA set of vectors equipped with addition and scalar multiplication satisfying standard axioms.Linear AlgebraVertexA point where edges, rays, or segments meet; also the turning point of a parabola.GeometryVolumeA measure of three-dimensional space occupied by a solid.GeometryZeroThe additive identity: adding zero leaves a number unchanged.Numbers & Number Theory