HOTmaths dictionary

This illustrated dictionary offers free access to over several hundred mathematical symbols, terms and definitions from the early secondary syllabus.

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Term	Definition
mark-up	the amount added to the cost price to find the selling price (usually expresssed as a percentage of the cost price)

Related links:
Applying percentages — Increasing and decreasing using percentages
Applying percentages — Profit and loss
Applying percentages — Finding the whole amount

Term

Definition

mass

the amount of matter (material) in a body

Metric units for measuring mass are the gram (g) and kilogram (kg).

The mass of a body stays the same regardless of changes in gravity (see also weight).

Related links:
Fractions — This as a fraction of that
Decimals — What is the point?
Length, perimeter and area — Units of length
Measuring solids — Mass
Equations and inequalities — Equations and formulas
Ratios and rates — Rates

Term	Definition
maximum	greatest (opposite to minimum)

Related links:
Representing data — Scatter diagrams
Representing data — Histograms and polygons
Manipulating algebra — Formulas in spreadsheets

Term	Definition
mean	a measure of central tendency; the average value of the scores Mean = If the data is represented in a table, then Mean =

Related links:
Analysing data — The mean
Analysing data — The mode, the median and range
Analysing data — Analysing dot plots
Analysing data — Analysing stem-and-leaf plots
Analysing data — Analysing tables

Term	Definition
measurement	process of quantifying properties of an object (eg length, area, weight, capacity) by comparing them with a standard unit (eg metre (m), kilogram (kg), litre (L))

Related links:
Fractions — This as a fraction of that
Decimals — Rounding decimals
Length, perimeter and area — Units of length
Length, perimeter and area — Measuring length
Length, perimeter and area — Perimeter
Length, perimeter and area — Areas of rectangles and squares
Length, perimeter and area — Areas of triangles
Length, perimeter and area — Converting area units and estimating
Measuring solids — Volume of rectangular prisms
Measuring solids — Capacity
Time — Time measurements
Time — Timetables and charts
2D shapes — Angle sum of a triangle
2D shapes — Angle sum of a quadrilateral
Angles — How to measure an angle
Pythagoras' theorem — Length of the hypotenuse
Pythagoras' theorem — Length of any side
Pythagoras' theorem — Pythagoras, perimeter and area
Representing data — Divided bar graphs
Representing data — Line, conversion and step graphs
Circles and cylinders — Pi and the circumference
Ratios and rates — Rates

Term	Definition
measures of central tendency	the mean, mode and median values on or close to the centre of the scores

Related links:
Analysing data — The mode, the median and range
Analysing data — Analysing dot plots
Analysing data — Analysing stem-and-leaf plots
Analysing data — Analysing tables

Term

Definition

median

the middle score when the data is arranged in order

There are the same number of scores above it as below it.

If there is an even number of scores, the median is the average of the two in the middle.

Related links:
Analysing data — The mode, the median and range
Analysing data — Analysing dot plots
Analysing data — Analysing stem-and-leaf plots
Analysing data — Analysing tables

Term

Definition

metre (m)

standard unit of metric measurement for length equal to 100 centimetres (ie 100 cm = 1 m)

One metre is the length of the path travelled by light in a vacuum during a time interval of one 299 792 458th of a second.

One rotation of a metre trundle wheel equals 1 m.

Related links:
Fractions — This as a fraction of that
Decimals — Multiplying and dividing by powers of 10
Length, perimeter and area — Units of length
Length, perimeter and area — Measuring length
Length, perimeter and area — Perimeter
Pythagoras' theorem — Length of any side
Circles and cylinders — Area of a circle
Congruent and similar shapes — Scale drawings
Ratios and rates — Rates

Term	Definition
metric system of measurement	a measurement system using the base-ten number system and adopted by most countries in the world Examples Units of measurement for length or distance include millimetre (mm), centimetre (cm), metre (m) and kilometre (km). Units for mass or weight include gram and kilogram. Units for capacity and volume include millilitre (mL), litre, cubic centimetres.

Related links:
Length, perimeter and area — Units of length
Measuring solids — Capacity
Measuring solids — Mass

Term

Definition

microgram (mcg)

unit of metric measurement for weight or mass equal to one thousandth of a milligram (ie 1000 mcg = 1 mg)

Micrograms are used to measure very small quantities such as the toxin content per gram in water supplies, or the nutrient content in vitamin supplements.

Term

Definition

milligram (mg)

unit of metric measurement for weight or mass equal to one thousandth of a gram (ie 1000 mg = 1 g)

Example
The weight of a grain of sand may range from 0.17 mg to 13 mg depending on its thickness.

Related links:
Measuring solids — Capacity
Measuring solids — Mass

Term

Definition

millilitre (mL)

unit of metric measurement for capacity equal to one thousandth of one litre (ie 1000 mL = 1 L)

A standard teaspoon holds 5 mL.

Related links:
Measuring solids — Capacity
Circles and cylinders — Volume of a cylinder

Term	Definition
millimetre (mm)	unit of metric measurement for length equal to one thousandth of one metre (ie 1000 mm = 1 m)

Related links:
Decimals — Rounding decimals
Length, perimeter and area — Units of length
Length, perimeter and area — Measuring length
Length, perimeter and area — Areas of rectangles and squares
Length, perimeter and area — Areas of triangles
Length, perimeter and area — Converting area units and estimating
Representing data — Divided bar graphs
Equations and inequalities — A formal approach

Term	Definition
minimum	least (opposite to maximum)

Related links:
Manipulating algebra — Formulas in spreadsheets

Term	Definition
mixed numeral	a number represented by a whole number part and a fraction part

Related links:
Fractions — Mixed numerals and improper fractions
Fractions — Adding and subtracting fractions
Fractions — Adding and subtracting mixed numerals
Fractions — Multiplying mixed numerals
Fractions — Dividing by harder fractions
Decimals — Changing decimals to fractions
Percentages — Writing percentages as fractions
Percentages — Percentage/fraction/decimal connection

Term

Definition

mode

the most frequently occurring value in a set of data; the score that happens most often

There may be more than one mode for a set of scores, or there may be no mode.

Related links:
Analysing data — The mode, the median and range
Analysing data — Analysing dot plots
Analysing data — Analysing stem-and-leaf plots
Analysing data — Analysing tables

Term

Definition

month (calendar)

30 days (April, June, September and November)

31 days (January, March, May, July, August, October and December)

28 days (February, and 29 in a leap year)

Related links:
Time — Time measurements
Time — Time of day
Time — Timetables and charts
Time — Time zones

Term

Definition

month (lunar)

the time it takes for the Moon to rotate about the Earth: 29 days, 12 hours, 44 minutes and 3 seconds

Related links:
Time — Time measurements

Term	Definition
multiple	the multiple of a number is the product of that number and any other whole number Example The multiples of 6 are 6, 12, 18, 24, 30, 36, 42, 48, 54, 60 ...

Related links:
Number theory — Factors and multiples
Number theory — Lowest common multiple (LCM)
Number theory — Divisibility tests
Number theory — HCF and LCM for large numbers
Fractions — Comparing and ordering fractions
Fractions — Adding and subtracting fractions
Manipulating algebra — Factorising

Term	Definition
multiplication	repeated addition Example 4 × 7 means 4 added 7 times: 4 + 4 + 4 + 4 + 4 + 4 + 4 = 28

Related links:
Whole numbers — Multiplying whole numbers
Whole numbers — Order of operations
Number theory — Factors and multiples
Number theory — Square roots
Fractions — Multiplying fractions
Fractions — Multiplying mixed numerals
Decimals — Multiplying and dividing by powers of 10
Decimals — Multiplying decimals
Integers — Multiplying integers
Integers — Dividing integers
Algebra — Multiplying and dividing terms
Equations and inequalities — Working backwards
Manipulating algebra — Reading algebra
Manipulating algebra — Formulas in spreadsheets

Term	Definition
mutually prime	two numbers are mutually prime if they have no factors in common except 1 Example The factors of 14 are 1, 2, 7 and 14, and the factors of 15 are 1, 3, 5 and 15. The only factor they have in common is 1, so 14 and 15 are mutually prime.

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