HOTmaths dictionary

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

Select any letter to see examples of mathematical terms with clear explanations and helpful diagrams.

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	Term Definition the symbol representing the complement of set H
	Related links: Set theory — Applying Venn diagrams
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	Term Definition is an element of Example 7 {prime numbers} means 7 is an element of the set of prime numbers.
	Related links: Set theory — Introducing sets Set theory — Set relationships and Venn diagrams Set theory — Applying Venn diagrams
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	Term Definition symbol for intersection of sets
	Related links: Set theory — Set relationships and Venn diagrams Set theory — Applying Venn diagrams
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	Term Definition symbol representing null set
	Related links: Set theory — Introducing sets Set theory — Set relationships and Venn diagrams
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	Term Definition symbol that means 'is a subset of'
	Related links: Set theory — Set relationships and Venn diagrams Set theory — Applying Venn diagrams
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	Term Definition symbol for union of sets
	Related links: Set theory — Set relationships and Venn diagrams Set theory — Applying Venn diagrams
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	Term Definition the symbol representing a universal set
	Related links: Set theory — Applying Venn diagrams
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	Term Definition symbol for angle
	Related links: Angles — How to name an angle Congruent and similar shapes — Which shapes are similar?
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	Term Definition symbol for triangle
	Related links: 2D shapes — Angle sum of a triangle Congruent and similar shapes — Which shapes are similar?
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	Term Definition is perpendicular to
	Related links: Angles — Points, lines and intervals Exploring geometry — Constructing lines and angles Exploring geometry — Bisecting angles and intervals
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	Term Definition plus or minus Example 7 shows there are two possible values: +7 or −7
	Related links: Length, perimeter and area — Units of length
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	Term Definition is parallel to (see parallel lines)
	Related links: Angles — Points, lines and intervals
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	Term Definition is approximately equal to Example $19.98 ≈ $20
	Related links: Whole numbers — Estimation and rounding off Length, perimeter and area — Converting area units and estimating Circles and cylinders — Area of a circle
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	Term Definition the cube root of (the reverse of cubed) Example = 2 (since 8 = 23)
	Related links: Number theory — Cube roots
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	Term Definition is equal to Example 4 + 5 = 9
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	Term Definition is greater than or equal to Example 6 ≥ 4 6 ≥ 6
	Related links: Equations and inequalities — Inequalities
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	Term Definition is approximately equal to Example 3.142
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	Term Definition is congruent to (see also congruent figures)
	Related links: Congruent and similar shapes — Congruent shapes
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	Term Definition and so on Often used to show that a pattern continues (called ellipsis).
	Related links: Number theory — Further patterns in numbers
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	Term Definition mean; average score
	Related links: Analysing data — The mean Analysing data — The mode, the median and range
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	Term Definition Greek letter phi (pronounced fie) used to represent the golden ratio
	Related links: Ratios and rates — Using ratios
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	Term Definition Greek letter pi; represents a number that cannot be written exactly using the digits 0 to 9 3.142
	Related links: Circles and cylinders — Pi and the circumference Circles and cylinders — Area of a circle Circles and cylinders — Volume of a cylinder
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	Term Definition is similar to
	Related links: Congruent and similar shapes — Which shapes are similar? Congruent and similar shapes — Scale factor
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	Term Definition is greater than Examples 6 > 4 −2 > −5 0 > −1
	Related links: Equations and inequalities — Inequalities
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	Term Definition is less than or equal to Example 4 ≤ 7 4 ≤ 4
	Related links: Equations and inequalities — Inequalities
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	Term Definition is less than Examples 2 < 17 0 < 7 −4 < −1
	Related links: Equations and inequalities — Inequalities Circles and cylinders — Area of a circle
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	Term Definition is not equal to Example 4 + 5 ≠ 8 (value on left is different to value on right)
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	Term Definition symbol for percent
	Related links: Percentages — What is a percentage? Percentages — One whole is 100% Percentages — Writing percentages as fractions Percentages — Changing fractions to percentages Percentages — Changing percentages to decimals Percentages — Changing decimals to percentages Percentages — Percentage/fraction/decimal connection Percentages — Common conversions Applying percentages — Percentage of a quantity Applying percentages — One amount as a percentage of another Applying percentages — Increasing and decreasing using percentages Applying percentages — Profit and loss Applying percentages — Finding the whole amount
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	Term Definition the square root of (the inverse operation of squared) Example = 5 (since 25 = 52)
	Related links: Number theory — Square roots Pythagoras' theorem — Length of the hypotenuse
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	Term Definition therefore Example 3 + 4 = 7 7 − 4 = 3