Những từ vựng Toán GRE thường gặp

Nắm vững một số từ vựng/thuật ngữ Toán thường gặp trong bài thi GRE sẽ giúp các bạn vượt qua cửa ải này một cách dễ dàng hơn. Danh sách từ vựng dưới đây các bạn hãy cùng GLEN Education học và áp dụng trong các bài luyện tập thật tốt trước khi thi nhé!

absolute value: the actual distance a number is from 0 on a number line

acute angle: any angle less than 90 degrees.

algebraic expression: a mathematical expression with one or more variables, written as either a single term or a sum of terms. Example:

4x+8

angle: the shape formed by the convergence of two straight lines

arc: all of the points located between two points on the edge of a circle. 

area: the amount of space enclosed by a 2-D shape

axis: the horizontal (x-axis) or vertical (y-axis) lines in a coordinate system, or a straight line joining the centers of the bases of a right circular cylinder. 

bar graph: a graph containing either horizontal or vertical bars with various heights corresponding to certain frequencies.

base: a number being brought to a certain power with an exponent. For example, 4 is the base in 42.

bell curve: a graph displaying a normal distribution (and thus creating a bell shape).

central angle: a vertex located in the center of a circle and created by the intersection of two radii. See “arc” for diagram.

circle graph: a graph that represents data using the shape of a circle.

circumference: the length around a circle (i.e., the perimeter of a circle)

coefficient: a number multiplied by a variable or variables. For example, 8 is the coefficient in 8x.

combination: a way of selecting a certain number of things in which order is irrelevant

common denominator: a common multiple of two separate denominators

congruent: the same in shape or size

constant: a term with no variable. For example, 6 is a constant in y=13x2+5x−6.

cross multiplication: a method for converting two equivalent fractions into products. Performed by multiplying both terms’ numerators by the other term’s denominators.

cube: a six-sided rectangular solid with the same length and width for all of its faces.

denominator: the bottom number of a fraction. For example, 19 is the denominator in 

10

19

.

diameter: the length of a line cutting a circle in half and passing through the center point.

dispersion: how far a set of data is spread out

divisor: the number you divide by in order to get a quotient. For example, 5 is the divisor in 

50

5

=10.

equation: a mathematical statement depicting the equivalence of two different expressions. 

y=12x+2

equilateral triangle: a triangle with three sides of the same length and three 45-degree angles.

even integer: any whole number divisible by 2

exponent: a superscript number used to denote how many times a base is being multiplied by itself. For example, 6 is the exponent in 36=729.

factor: a number multiplied to get a product. For example, 3 and 4 are both factors of 12 because 3*4=12.

factorial: the product of all integers (until 1) less than and equal to a number. 

3!=3*2*1=6

fraction: a quantity that is not a whole number (written using a numerator and a denominator). 

3

5

frequency: the number of times a particular piece of data occurs

function: a mathematical relation between a set of possible inputs to a set of possible outputs

histogram: a type of graph depicting intervals and their frequencies. 

inequality: an expression signifying a relationship wherein two or more expressions are not equal to one another. Equal sign is replaced with >, <, or ≠. 

x+y<8

integer: any whole number (negative, positive, or 0)

irrational number: any number that cannot be represented as a ratio between two integers, or any number containing a never-ending, pattern-less decimal. 

√2=1.41421356 …

isosceles triangle: a triangle with two sides of the same length and two equal angles. 

least common multiple: the smallest number that is a multiple for two different values. 6 is the least common multiple of 2 and 6 because 2*3=6 and 1*6=6.

linear equation: an equation that creates a straight line in a coordinate system. 

y=5x+2

mean: the average value of a data set (the sum of n numbers divided by n)

median: the middle value of a data set

mixed number: the combination of an integer and a fraction. 

2

4

5

mode: the most common value of a data set

multiple: a possible product of an integer. For example, multiples of 4 include 4, 8, 12, 16, 20, ....

normal distribution: a type of data distribution with a curved shape. See “bell curve” for diagram.

numerator: the top number of a fraction.  3 is the numerator in 

3

8

.

obtuse angle: any angle more than 90 degrees but less than 180 degrees. 

odd integer: any whole number not divisible by 2

origin: the center point of a coordinate system, or (0, 0). See “axis” for diagram.

outlier: a value in a data set that is distinctly separate (either extremely high or low) from the rest of the data

parabola: a curve in a coordinate system shaped like an arch. 

parallel lines: lines with the same slope and never intersecting. 

percent: parts per 100

perimeter: the length around a polygon (i.e., the sum of all sides)

permutation: a way of arranging a certain number of values in which order matters

perpendicular lines: lines that intersect to create only right angles. 

pi (π): a mathematical constant describing the ratio of a circle’s circumference to its diameter. Can be rounded to 3.14.

pie chart: see “circle graph”

polygon: a 2-D object made using straight lines. 

prime number: any integer greater than 1 that can only be divided by 1 and itself. Examples include 2, 3, 5, 7, 11, 13, 17, 19, 23, etc. Note that 2 is the only even integer that is also a prime number.

probability: the likelihood of an event occurring

proportion: two equivalent terms displayed as a ratio

quadrilateral: any four-sided polygon, such as a square, rectangle, trapezoid, or parallelogram

quartile: one of four parts of a data set

radius: the length of a line extending from the center point of a circle to any point on the edge.

range: the difference between the highest and lowest values of a data set

ratio: a relationship between two numbers highlighting their relative values to each other. 

2:7

rational number: any number that can be represented as a ratio of two integers. 

1

3

real number: all rational and irrational numbers

reciprocal: any integer or fraction with its numerator and denominator switched (for reciprocals of integers, the numerator is 1). 

3

4

 is the reciprocal of 

4

3

 and vice versa.

rectangular solid: any six-sided 3-D object. 

remainder: the leftover amount of a value after performing a computation (usually division)

right angle: 90 degrees. 

right circular cylinder: a 3-D object with two identical circular bases and an axis perpendicular to the bases’ center points. 

right triangle: a triangle with one 90-degree angle. The two shorter sides are the “legs” and the longest side (opposite the right angle) is the “hypotenuse.” 

scatterplot: a type of graph depicting the relationship and trends of two separate variables. 

sector: the (shaded) region of a circle enclosed by an arc and two radii. 

similar: the same in shape but not size. 

slope: the steepness of a line (in a coordinate system), represented by m in the equation y=mx+b. Lines with positive slopes increase from left to right, whereas lines with negative slopes decrease from left to right. 

solution: any value that solves an equation or inequality

square root: the number that produces a specific number when multiplied by itself. For example, 5 is the square root of 25, or √25=5.

standard deviation: a measure for how spread out a certain data set is

surface area: the total exterior area of a 3-D object

system of equations: a set of two or more equations with the same variables. 

y=x+3

x=5−y

tangent: intersecting at precisely one point (on a shape). 

variable: an unknown quantity, usually represented by the letter x. For example, a is the variable in 5a−10=20

vertex: the intersection of two straight lines, creating an angle

volume: the amount of space occupied by a 3-D object

x-axis: the horizontal reference line in a coordinate system. 

x-coordinate: how far a point is horizontally from the origin of a coordinate system

x-intercept: where a line or shape passes through the x-axis

y-axis: the vertical reference line in a coordinate system. 

y-coordinate: how far a point is vertically from the origin of a coordinate system

y-intercept: where a line or shape passes through the y-axis