Math Terms
for 3rd grade through 5th Grade
expanded notation
Definition decomposing the number into its place value parts
Example 2,345 in expanded notation is 2(1,000) + 3(100) + 4(10) + 5
standard form
Definition a simple number that does not contain any decimal points or exponents.
Example 3(100) + 8(10) + 5(1/10) in standard form is 380.1
fractions
Definition part of a whole
Example 3/4 of a whole is 3 parts of a whole divided into 4 equal parts
factor
Definition the numbers multiplied together to give a product
Example 3 and 5 are factors of 15, because 3×5=15
multiple
Definition the product of factors
Example The first 4 multiples of 3 are 0,3,6 and 9.
Numbers have an infinite number of multiples.
A non-example is that the first 4 multiples of 3 are 1, 4, 5 and 7.
algorithm
Definition is a process or set of rules to be followed in calculations long division
Example A non-example is when a student randomly guesses at a solution to a problem without following a process.
inverse operations
Definition operation that inverses the effect of another operation
Example Addition and subtraction are inverse opperations.
Multiplication and division are also inverse operations.
whole numbers
Definition the set of numbers starting with zero and increasing by one
Example 0, 1, 2, 3 and 4
Non-examples include ½, .4 and 1 ⅔
numerator
Definition the top number in a fraction that shows how many parts there are
denominator
Definition the bottom number in a fraction that shows how many parts the whole is divided into
mixed numbers
Definition a fraction written as a whole number and a fraction less than one
Example 1⅕, 202 ⅓ and 4.
Non-examples include ⅜, 1.2 and 3.
equivalent fractions
Definition fractions that name the same point on a number line and represent the same numerical value
Example 1/2, 2/4, and 8/16 are equivalent fractions
common denominator
Definition Two or more fractions have a common denominator when they have the same number for their denominator.
Example 1/6 and 4/6 have a common denominator.
Non-examples are 1/6 and 2/5 because they do not have common denominators.
simplify a fraction
Definition to make a fraction as simple as possible
Example 1/2 is simplier than 2/4 or 8/16
