Beginning Algebra, 11th Edition

Glossary

G-1

absolute value The absolute value of a
number is the distance between 0 and the
number on a number line. (Section 1.4)
addition property of equality The addition
property of equality states that the same
number can be added to (or subtracted from)
both sides of an equation to obtain an equiva-
lent equation. (Section 2.1)
addition property of inequality The addi-
tion property of inequality states that the
same number can be added to (or subtracted
from) both sides of an inequality without
changing the solution set. (Section 2.8)
additive inverse (opposite) The additive
inverse of a number x, symbolized , is
the number that is the same distance from
0 on the number line as x, but on the oppo-
site side of 0. The number 0 is its own
additive inverse. For all real numbers x,
(Section 1.4)

algebraic expression An algebraic ex-
pression is a sequence of numbers, variables,
operation symbols, and/or grouping symbols
(such as parentheses) formed according to
the rules of algebra. (Section 1.3)

area Area is a measure of the surface
covered by a two-dimensional (flat) figure.
(Section 2.5)
associative property of addition The as-
sociative property of addition states that the
grouping of terms in a sum does not affect
the sum. (Section 1.7)

associative property of multiplication The
associative property of multiplication states
that the grouping of factors in a product
does not affect the product. (Section 1.7)

axis (axis of symmetry) The axis of a
parabola is the vertical or horizontal line
(depending on the orientation of the graph)
through the vertex of the parabola. (Sec-
tions 5.4, 9.5)

base The base in an exponential expres-
sion is the expression that is the repeated
factor. In bis the base. (Sections 1.2, 5.1)
binomial A binomial is a polynomial con-
sisting of exactly two terms. (Section 5.4)

boundary line In the graph of a linear in-

equality, the boundary line separates the

region that satisfies the inequality from the

region that does not satisfy the inequality.

(Section 3.5)

circle graph (pie chart) A circle graph

(or pie chart) is a circle divided into sectors,

or wedges, whose sizes show the relative

magnitudes of the categories of data being

represented. (Section 1.1)

coefficient (Seenumerical coefficient.)

combining like terms Combining like

terms is a method of adding or subtracting

terms having exactly the same variable factors

by using the properties of real numbers.(Sec-

tion 1.8)

common factor An integer that is a factor

of two or more integers is called a common

factor of those integers. (Section 6.1)

commutative property of addition The

commutative property of addition states that

the order of terms in a sum does not affect

the sum. (Section 1.7)

commutative property of multiplication

The commutative property of multiplication

states that the order of factors in a product

does not affect the product. (Section 1.7)

complement of a set The set of elements

in the universal set that are not in a set Ais

the complement of A, written. (Appendix)

complementary angles (complements)

Complementary angles are two angles whose

measures have a sum of 90°. (Section 2.4)

completing the square The process of

adding to a binomial the expression that

makes it a perfect square trinomial is called

completing the square. (Section 9.2)

complex fraction A complex fraction is a

quotient with one or more fractions in the nu-

merator, denominator, or both. (Section 7.5)

complex number A complex number is

any number that can be written in the form

, where aandbare real numbers and i

is the imaginary unit. (Section 9.4)

components In an ordered pair ,

xandyare called the components of the

ordered pair. (Section 3.6)

composite number A natural number great-

er than 1 that is not prime is a composite num-

ber. It is composed of prime factors repre-

sented in one and only one way. (Section 1.1)

conditional equation A conditional equa-

tion is true for some replacements of the

variable and false for others. (Section 2.3)

conjugate The conjugate of is

. (Section 8.5)
conjugate of a complex number The
conjugate of a complex number is
. (Section 9.4)
consecutive integers Two integers that differ
by 1 are called consecutive integers. (Sections
2.4, 6.6)
consistent system A system of equations
with a solution is called a consistent system.
(Section 4.1)
constant of variation In the equation
or , the nonzero real number kis
called the constant of variation. (Section 7.8)
contradiction A contradiction is an equa-
tion that is never true. It has no solution.
(Section 2.3)
coordinate on a number line Every point
on a number line is associated with a unique
real number, called the coordinate of the
point. (Section 1.4)
coordinates of a point The numbers in an
ordered pair are called the coordinates of the
corresponding point in the plane. (Section 3.1)
cross products The cross products in the
proportion are adandbc. (Section 2.6)
cube root A number bis a cube root of aif
is true. (Section 8.1)

degree A degree is a basic unit of measure

for angles in which one degree (1°) is of

a complete revolution. (Section 2.4)

degree of a polynomial The degree of a

polynomial is the greatest degree of any of

the terms in the polynomial. (Section 5.4)

degree of a term The degree of a term is

the sum of the exponents on the variables in

the term. (Section 5.4)

denominator The number below the frac-

tion bar in a fraction is called the denominator.

It indicates the number of equal parts in a

whole. (Section 1.1)

1

360

D

b^3 =a

a

b=

c

d

y=kx y=kx

a-bi

a+bi

a-b

a+b

1 x,y 2

a+bi

A¿

C

bx,

B

x+ 1 - x 2 = 1 - x 2 +x=0.

• x

A

For a more complete discussion, see the section(s) in parentheses.