absolute value the absolute value ofa is the distance between aand 0.
addend a quantity that is added to another quantity. In the equation x+ 3 = 5,xand 3 are addends.
additive inverse the negative of a quantity
algebra the representation of quantities and relationships using symbols
algebraic equation an algebraic expression equal to a number or another algebraic expression, such as x+ 4 = –1
algebraic expression one or more terms, at least one of which contains a variable. An algebraic expression may
or may not contain an operation (such as addition or multiplication), but does not contain an equal sign.
algebraic inequality an algebraic expression not equal to a number or another algebraic expression, con-
taining≠,<,>, ,or , such as x+ 2 > 8
base a number or variable that is used as a building block within an expression. In the term 3x,xis the base.
In the term 2^4 , 2 is the base.
binomial an expression that contains two terms, such as (2x+ 1)
coefficient the numerical multiplier, or factor, of an algebraic term. In the term 3x, 3 is the coefficient.
composite number a number that has at least one other positive factor besides itself and 1, such as 4 or 10
constant a term, such as 3, that never changes value
coordinate pair an x-value and a y-value, in parentheses separated by a comma, such as (4, 2)
coordinate plane a two-dimensional surface with an x-axis and a y-axis
cubic equation an equation in which the highest degree is 3. The equation y= x^3 + xis cubic.
decreasing function a function whose graph falls vertically from left to right
degree The degree of a variable is its exponent. The degree of a polynomial is the highest degree of its terms.
The degree ofx^5 is 5, and the degree ofx^3 + x^2 +9 is 3.