Basic Math Terms and Concepts

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Quotient

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Math action words

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Words like add, subtract, multiply, and divide—they tell you what math operation to do in a problem.

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Divisor

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The number that divides into another number. For example, in 12 ÷ 3, 3 is the divisor.

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Dividend

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The number you want to divide. In 12 ÷ 3, 12 is the dividend.

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Mixed numbers

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Numbers made of a whole number and a fraction, like 2 ⅓ or 5 ½.

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Improper fractions

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Fractions where the top number (numerator) is equal to or bigger than the bottom number (denominator), like 7/4 or 8/8.

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Denominator

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The bottom number in a fraction; it tells how many pieces the whole is divided into.

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Numerator

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The top number in a fraction; it shows how many pieces you're talking about.

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Simplifying

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Making a fraction smaller in scale but equivalent—like turning 4/8 into 1/2 by dividing both numbers by 4.

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Reciprocal

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A flipped version of a fraction. If you have 3/5, the reciprocal is 5/3.