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The short version An algebraic expression is a math phrase made of numbers, variables (letters like x), and operations, such as 3x + 5. It has no equals sign. An equation sets two expressions equal (3x + 5 = 20), so you can solve it. An expression can only be evaluated or simplified. To evaluate…
The short version The area of a triangle is half the base times the height: A = ½ × b × h, or A = (b × h) ÷ 2. The height has to be perpendicular to the base (it meets the base at a right angle). It’s usually not one of the slanted sides….
The short version The origin in math is the starting point for measuring position: 0 on a number line, (0, 0) on a coordinate plane, and (0, 0, 0) in 3D. On a graph, the origin is where the x-axis and y-axis cross. It’s often labeled with the letter O. Every coordinate pair tells you…
The short version The at least sign is ≥, read “greater than or equal to.” x ≥ 5 means x can be 5 or anything bigger. The at most sign is ≤, read “less than or equal to.” x ≤ 5 means x can be 5 or anything smaller. “At least,” “minimum,” and “no less…
The short version Mental math means solving a problem in your head, without paper or a calculator, by using number sense and shortcuts instead of the written method. When homework says “solve mentally,” it wants a strategy like making a ten, rounding and adjusting, or breaking numbers apart. A few strategies cover most everyday problems:…
The short version An outlier in math is a data value that sits far away from the rest of the numbers in a set, either much bigger or much smaller. The standard test is the 1.5 × IQR rule: anything below Q1 – 1.5 × IQR or above Q3 + 1.5 × IQR counts as…
The short version A unit rate tells you how much of one thing there is for exactly 1 of something else, like 50 miles per hour or $0.30 per ounce. To find a unit rate, divide the first quantity by the second: 150 miles ÷ 3 hours = 50 miles per hour. Unit price is…
The short version Whole numbers are 0, 1, 2, 3, 4 and so on, forever. No fractions, no decimals, no negatives. Zero is a whole number. It’s the smallest one, and it’s neither positive nor negative. Natural numbers usually start at 1, whole numbers start at 0, and integers add the negatives: …, -2, -1,…
The short version A rate in math compares two quantities measured in different units, like 60 miles per 1 hour or $12 for 3 pounds. A ratio can compare anything, often things with the same units. A rate is a ratio whose units are different. The main rate formula is amount = rate × time….
The short version Squared means a number multiplied by itself. 5 squared is written 52 and equals 5 × 5 = 25. It’s called “squared” because a square with sides of 5 has an area of 25. Squared is not the same as times 2. 62 = 36, but 6 × 2 = 12. Squared…