Addend - An addend is a number that is to be added to another number eg. 3 + 6 = 9, 3 and 6 are addends. An unknown addend would be where either of the addends are missing in an equation, but you have the answer eg blank + 6 = 9, the missing addend would be 3.
Composite - a composite number is a whole number with more than two factors. 24 has has factors (4 factor pairs) therefore as it has more than two factors, it is a composite number. Difference - the difference is the result of subtraction when two number are compared. It answers the question. The difference between 12 and 9 is 3. Divisor - a divisor is the number by which another number is divided. eg, in 14/2=7, 2 is the divisor. Factor - factors are any of the numbers multiplied to form a product eg 24 is the product in the following equations 1 x 24, 2 x 12, 3 x 8, 4 x 6, 6 x 4, 8 x 3, 12 x 2, 24 x 1. Therefore, the factors of 24 are 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 8, 12, 24. An unknown factor would be where either of the factors are missing in an equation, but you have the answer eg. blank x 8 = 24, the unknown factor is 3. Factor Pairs - a factor pair is a set of two numbers that, when multiplied, will result in a given product. eg. in 24, there are four factor pairs - 1 x 24, 2 x 12, 3 x 8, 4 x 6 Multiple - a multiple of a whole number is the product of that number and another whole number eg, multiples of 4 include 0, 4, 8, 12,.... because they are the product of 0 x 4, 1 x 4, 2 x 4, 3 x 4 |
Multi-step - A multi-step problem exists when there are other questions that must be answered first, before answering the written question. The key to solving these problems is by answering the unstated questions first. eg. David has a rectangular garden that measures 3 metres by 4 metres. He wants to plant peas in his garden. Dad said that one seed packet will be enough to fill a space 10 square metre space. Will David’s
garden have enough space to plant 2 seed packets? Since the final question is really asking for a comparison of the available area to the needed area, the two unstated questions are: “What is the area of David’s garden?” and, “What is the area needed for two seed packets?” You might make a list of steps something like this: 1) area of garden in square metres? 2) area needed for one seed packet? 3) area needed for two seed packets? 4) compare areas to answer question Prime - A prime number is a counting number that has exactly two factors eg 5 has the factors 1 and 5 (1 x 5, 5 x 1) there are no other factors of 5, it has exactly two. The other way to remember is that a prime number can only be divided by itself and 1. Product - a product is the result of multiplication eg the 24 is the product of 8 x 3 (8 x 3 = 24) Quotient - a quotient is the number resulting from division eg. 7 is the quotient of 14 divided by 2 (14/2) Subtrahend - the quantity subtracted from another in finding a difference eg. 24 - 8 = 16, 8 is the subtrahend. An unknown subtrahend would be where the 8 in the above equation was missing. Term - a term is a component of a sequence. The terms of a sequence are the numbers in that pattern or sequence eg. 2, 4, 6, 8,...4 is the second term, 8 is the fourth term and 12 would be the sixth term. |
Frequently Asked Questions
Here, you will find many of the definitions that are asked about. These come from:
- MATH Dictionary: The EASY, SIMPLE, FUN guide to help math phobics become math lovers by Eula Ewing Monroe, published by Scholastic
- Dictionary of Mathematics Penguin Reference ed. David Nelson, published by Penguin Books
- Multistep Word Problems - Math-U-See
www.mathusee.com/pdfs/Multistepword.pdf