Glossary Entries

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Table A table is a systematic or orderly list of values, usually in rows and columns. They are often organized from a function or relationship.
Tally Mark A mark used to keep track of data being counted.
Tangent A tangent is a line segment, line, or ray that intersects a circle in only one point.
Technical Writing Technical writing is a style of writing used to describe, explain, or defend a mathematical idea, reasoning, or process. The term "technical" refers to knowledge that is not widespread, that is more the territory of experts and specialists and whenever one attempts to write or say anything about a particular field of study, one is engaged in technical writing. Technical writing is the delivery of technical information to readers (or listeners or viewers) in a manner that is adapted to their needs, level of understanding, and background; this ability to "translate" technical information to non-specialists is a key skill to any technical communicator. It requires the author to use specific mathematical language where the writing is often precise and short. Technical writing would be considered the opposite of narrative writing.
Technology Tools such as calculator, computer, or personal data assistant (PDA) used to help represent/solve a problem.
Temperature The extent of warmth or coldness of something; a thermometer is used to measure temperature in Fahrenheit or Celsius.
Tens Place A place value position between the ones and hundreds; a digit in the tens place has a value of 10 times the value of the digit.
Tenths Place The first digit to the right of the decimal point; one out of 10 equal parts of a whole.
Term A term is a value in a mathematical formula.If you have 2+3=5, the two terms are "2" and "3." Terms can be positive, negative, natural, or any type of number or value. Theses terms may also be called the addends of the expression.
Terminating Decimal A decimal whose digits do not repeat; all terminating decimals are rational numbers (e.g., 0.7355).
Thousands Place The place value of the fourth digit to the left of the decimal point in any real number.
Three-Digit Number A whole number greater than 99 and less than 1000.
Three-Dimensional Figure An object that has length, width, and height; also called asolid figure (e.g., prism, pyramid, cylinder, cone).
Time A system of measuring duration or a specific portion of duration (e.g., year, season, day, hour, minute, second).
Ton A unit of weight equal to 2,000 pounds.
Tool Any instrument used to solve a problem. It does not necessarily involve technology.
Torus A three-dimensional shape that looks like a donut. It's actually a circle that has been rotated around an axis.
Transformation A change in the size, shape, location, or orientation of a figure.
Transitive Property For equality: If a=b and b=c, then a=c; For inequality: If a>>b and b>>c, then a»c; or If a<<b and b<<c, then a<<c.
Translation A rigid motion of the plane or space of the form X goes to X + V for a fixed vector V. It is a transformation that slides a figure a specific distance and direction. It is often just called a "slide."
Transversal Transversal is a geometry term. If you are given two or more lines in the plane, a transversal is a line distinct from the original lines and intersects each of the given lines in a single point. This type of line intersects two or more other lines.
Trapezoid A quadrilateral with one pair of parallel sides and one pair of sides that are not parallel.
Tree Diagram A schematic way of showing the number of ways a compound event may occur. For example, the tree diagram at the right shows the eight possible ways the tossing of three coins could happen.
Trial and Error A problem solving strategy whereby a reasonable estimate for an answer is made and checked in the problem.If the solution is not reached, the estimate is adjusted and checked again in the problem.This process continues until the correct answer is found. Example: An archer shot 8 arrows at the target shown below.If each arrow hit the target and the archer's total score was 175, where did the arrows land? By the use of trial and error, several combinations may be tried until the correct solution is found. It may also be called "Guess and Check."
Triangle A polygon with three sides and three angles. All of the interior angles add up to 180 degrees.
Trinomial A polynomial with exactly three terms.
Turn The transformation that occurs when a figure is turned a certain angle and direction around a point. A turn is also called a rotation.
Two-Digit Number A two-digit number is a whole number greater than 9 and less than 100.
Two-Dimensional Figure A figure that has length and width but no height. These figures have area, but no volume. Examples: Circle, Square, Triangle.
Two-Step Algebraic Equation An algebraic equation that requires two different steps such as multiplication/division and addition/subtraction to solve.


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