Glossary 339least common denominator The least common multiple of two or more denominators.
least common multiple The smallest number that has each of two or more numbers as a factor.
legs In a right triangle, the two sides that form the right angle.
like terms Terms that have the same variable, raised to the same power.
line A set of points that has length but no width or height.
line segment A part of a line, made up of two endpoints and all the points of the line between
the endpoints.
linear pair Two adjacent angles whose unshared sides form a straight angle.
major arc An arc larger than a semicircle.
mean The arithmetic average of a group of numbers, found by adding all the numbers and
dividing by the number of numbers in the group.
mean of a proportion The two middle numbers in a proportion.
median of a triangle A line segment that connects a vertex to the midpoint of the opposite
side.
median of a trapezoid The line segment that connects the midpoints of the two non-parallel
sides of a trapezoid.
midpoint The point on the segment that divides it into two segments of equal length.
minor arc An arc smaller than a semicircle.
minuend In a subtraction problem, the number from which another number is subtracted.
mixed number A whole number and a fraction, written side by side, representing the whole
number plus the fraction.
natural numbers The set of numbers {1, 2, 3, 4, ...} you use to count. The natural numbers are
also called the counting numbers.
number line A line divided into segments of equal length, labeled with numbers, usually the
integers. Positive numbers increase to the right of zero, and negative numbers go down to the left.
numerator The number above the bar in a fraction that tells you how many of that
denomination are present.
obtuse angle An angle that measures more than 90s but less than 180s.
obtuse triangle A triangle that contains one obtuse angle.