Math Word of the Day - Week of November 8

Math Word of the Day comes from the Math Dictionary written by Mathnasium.

Common Fraction

Sunday, November 8

A number that can be written in the form of a/b, where a and b are integers and b =/= 0. All decimal fractions that terminate or repeat can be written as common fractions.  

Commutative Property 

Monday, November 9

The law of mathematics that allows the independence of the ordering of the elements in a problem. Operations (such as addition and multiplication) are commutative because the elements can be operated on in any order without affecting the result.

Examples:

a + b = b + a

ab = ba

Note: Generally, subtraction and division are not commutative. It does matter in what order we subtract and divide (except in special cases). 

Compare 

Tuesday, November 10

To note the difference in absolute size of (by subtraction) or the difference in relative size of (by division).  

Compass 

Wednesday, November 11

A device for drawing circles or circular arcs and for making measurements.

Complement  

Thursday, November 12

"The rest of it." The quantity necessary to make a complete whole; the remaining part with respect to the whole.

Complex Number

Friday, November 13

The Complex Numbers are all the Real Numbers and numbers that involve the square root of negative one (√-1). Complex Numbers have the general form a + bi, where a and b are real numbers and i = √-1. a is the real part and bi is called the imaginary part. (For Real Numbers, b = 0. For pure Imaginary numbers, a = 0.)  

Composite Number 

Saturday, November 14

A number with three or more factors.