Pre-Algebra Terms
Pre-algebra builds the foundation for all higher mathematics. It covers arithmetic with integers, fractions, and decimals, introduces variables and basic equations, and develops proportional reasoning. This page collects the key pre-algebra terms and concepts on Mathwords — perfect for middle school students or anyone reviewing the basics.
Key Concepts
Fraction
A fraction is a number that represents a part of a whole, written as one quantity divided by another in the form a/b,...
Decimal
A decimal is a number that uses a dot (called a decimal point) to separate the whole number part from the fractional ...
Percent / Percentage
A percent is a number expressed as a fraction of 100, using the symbol %. For example, 25% means 25 out of 100, which...
Ratio
A ratio is the result of dividing one number or expression by another, expressing how two quantities compare in size....
Proportion
A proportion is an equation that shows two ratios are equal. For example, $\frac{1}{2} = \frac{3}{6}$ is a proportion...
Order of Operations (PEMDAS)
Order of Operations is the set of rules that tells you which calculations to do first when an expression has more tha...
Absolute Value
Absolute value is the distance of a number from zero on the number line, so it is always zero or positive. The absolu...
Exponent
An exponent is the small number written above and to the right of a base number that tells you how many times to mult...
Variable
A variable is a letter or symbol (such as $x$, $y$, or $n$) that represents a quantity whose value can change or is n...
Equation
An equation is a mathematical statement that asserts two expressions are equal, connected by an equal sign (=). Solvi...
Inequality
An inequality is a mathematical statement that compares two expressions using the symbols < (less than), > (greater t...
Prime Number
A prime number is a positive integer greater than 1 whose only factors are 1 and itself. Numbers like 2, 3, 5, 7, and...
Greatest Common Factor
Greatest Common Factor (GCF) is the largest positive integer that divides evenly into every number in a given set. Fo...
Least Common Multiple
The least common multiple (LCM) of two or more integers is the smallest positive integer that is a multiple of each o...
Place Value
Place value is the value a digit has because of its position within a number. For example, the digit 5 in the number ...
All Pre-Algebra Terms Terms (551)
- Abscissa
- Absolute Value
- Absolute Value Equation
- Absolute Value Function
- Absolute Value Inequality
- Absolute Value Rules
- Acceleration
- Accuracy
- Additive Inverse of a Matrix
- Aleph Null
- Algebra
- Alpha (Α α)
- Amortization
- Analytic Geometry
- Analytic Methods
- Annuity
- ARC
- Argand Plane
- Argument of a Function
- Arithmetic
- Arithmetic Mean
- Arithmetic Progression
- Arithmetic Series
- Asymptote
- Augmented Matrix
- Average
- Axes
- Axis of Reflection
- Axis of Symmetry
- Axis of Symmetry of a Parabola
- Back Substitution
- Bar Graph
- Base of an Exponential Expression
- Bayes' Theorem
- Biconditional
- Big O Notation
- Binary / Base 2
- Binomial Coefficients
- Binomial Coefficients in Pascal's Triangle
- Binomial Theorem
- Bivariate Data
- Boolean Logic
- Braces
- Brackets
- Cardinal Numbers
- Cartesian Coordinates
- Cartesian Form
- Cartesian Plane
- Categorical Data
- Ceiling Function
- Change of Base Formula
- Check a Solution
- Chi-Square Test
- Circle Graph (Pie Chart)
- Closed Interval
- Coefficient
- Coefficient Matrix
- Coefficient of Determination (R²)
- Column of a Matrix
- Combination
- Combination Formula
- Combinatorics
- Common Logarithm
- Common Ratio
- Compatible Matrices
- Completing the Square
- Complex Conjugate
- Complex Fraction
- Complex Number Formulas
- Complex Numbers
- Composite
- Composite Number
- Composition
- Compound Inequality
- Compound Interest
- Compounded Continuously
- Compression
- Compression of a Graph
- Compute
- Conditional Equation
- Conditional Inequality
- Confidence Interval
- Conic Sections
- Conjugate Pair Theorem
- Conjugates
- Consistent System of Equations
- Constant
- Constant Function
- Constant of Proportionality
- Constant Polynomial
- Continued Sum
- Continuity at a Point
- Contrapositive
- Converge
- Convergent Sequence
- Convergent Series
- Coordinate Grid
- Coordinates
- Correlation vs. Causation
- Cost Function
- Counting Numbers
- Cramer’s Rule
- Cross Multiplication
- Cross Section
- Cube Root
- Cubic Polynomial
- Cumulative Frequency
- Decay Factor
- Decimal
- Decreasing Function
- Degenerate
- Degree of a Polynomial
- Degree of a Term
- Denominator
- Dependent Events
- Dependent Variable
- Descartes' Rule of Signs
- Determinant
- Diagonal Matrix
- Difference
- Difference of Cubes
- Difference of Squares
- Difference Quotient
- Digit
- Dilation
- Dilation of a Graph
- Dimensional Analysis
- Dimensions
- Dimensions of a Matrix
- Direct Proportion
- Directrix of a Parabola
- Discriminant of a Quadratic
- Distance Formula
- Distinct
- Distribute
- Distributing Rules
- Distributive Property
- Diverge
- Divergent Sequence
- Divergent Series
- Divisibility Rules
- Domain
- Domain of Definition
- Dot Plot
- Double Cone
- Double Root
- Doubling Time
- e
- Eigenvalue
- Eigenvector
- Element of a Matrix
- Ellipse
- Empirical Rule (68-95-99.7 Rule)
- End Behavior
- Epsilon-Delta Definition
- Equation
- Equation of a Line
- Equation vs. Expression
- Equivalent Systems of Equations
- Euclidean Distance
- Evaluate
- Even Function
- Even Number
- Existential Quantifier
- Experimental Probability
- Explicit Formula of a Sequence
- Exponent
- Exponent Rules
- Exponential Decay
- Exponential Equation
- Exponential Function
- Exponential Growth
- Exponential Regression
- Exponentiation
- Expression
- Extraneous Solution
- Extrapolation
- Extrema
- Extreme Values of a Polynomial
- Extremum
- Factor of a Polynomial
- Factor of an Integer
- Factor Theorem
- Factor Tree
- Factored Form
- Factorial
- Factoring Rules
- Falling Bodies
- Fibonacci Sequence
- Flip
- Floor Function
- Focal Radius
- Foci of a Hyperbola
- Foci of an Ellipse
- Focus
- Focus of a Parabola
- FOIL Method
- Formula
- Fraction
- Fraction Rules
- Fractional Equation
- Fractional Exponents
- Fractional Expression
- Frequency Table
- Function
- Function Notation
- Function Operations
- Fundamental Counting Principle
- Fundamental Theorem of Algebra
- Fundamental Theorem of Arithmetic
- Future Value
- Gambling Odds
- Gaussian Elimination
- GCF
- General Form for the Equation of a Line
- Geometric Mean
- Geometric Progression
- Geometric Series
- Glide
- Golden Mean
- Golden Spiral
- Graph of an Equation or Inequality
- Graph Theory
- Graphic Methods
- Gravity
- Growth Factor
- Half-Closed Interval
- Half-Life
- Harmonic Mean
- Harmonic Progression
- Harmonic Series
- Hexadecimal
- Histogram
- Horizontal Asymptote
- Horizontal Compression
- Horizontal Dilation
- Horizontal Hyperbola
- Horizontal Line Equation
- Horizontal Line Test
- Horizontal Parabola
- Horizontal Reflection
- Horizontal Shift
- i
- Identity (Equation)
- Identity Matrix
- Identity of an Operation
- Identity Property of Addition
- Identity Property of Multiplication
- Imaginary Numbers
- Imaginary Part
- Improper Fraction
- Improper Rational Expression
- Inconsistent System of Equations
- Increasing Function
- Independent Variable
- Inequality
- Inequality Rules
- Infinite Geometric Series
- Infinite Series
- Integers
- Interest
- Interpolation
- Interval
- Interval Notation
- Inverse
- Inverse Function
- Inverse of a Matrix
- Inverse Operations
- Inverse Proportion
- Invertible Matrix
- Irrational Numbers
- Joint Variation
- Latus Rectum
- Law of Large Numbers
- LCM
- Leading Coefficient
- Leading Coefficient Test
- Leading Term
- Least Common Denominator
- Like Terms
- Limit Definition of Derivative
- Limit Laws
- Line of Best Fit
- Linear
- Linear Combination
- Linear Equation
- Linear Factorization
- Linear Inequality
- Linear Polynomial
- Linear Programming
- Linear Regression
- Linear System of Equations
- Literal Equation
- Locus
- Logarithm
- Logarithm Rules
- Logarithmic Equation
- Logical Equivalence
- Logistic Growth
- Long Division of Polynomials
- Magnitude
- Main Diagonal of a Matrix
- Major Axis of a Hyperbola
- Major Axis of an Ellipse
- Major Diameter of an Ellipse
- Margin of Error
- Mathematical Model
- Mathematical Model
- Matrix
- Matrix Addition
- Matrix Multiplication
- Matrix Subtraction
- Matrix Transformation
- Mean
- Mean Absolute Deviation (MAD)
- Mean of a Random Variable
- Measurement
- Median of a Set of Numbers
- Member of an Equation
- Midpoint
- Midpoint Formula
- Minor Axis of a Hyperbola
- Minor Axis of an Ellipse
- Minor Diameter of an Ellipse
- Mixed Number
- Mode
- Monomial
- Multiplicative Inverse of a Number
- Multiplicity
- Multivariable
- Natural Logarithm
- Negation
- Negative Exponents
- Negative Number
- Negative Reciprocal
- Net (Geometry)
- No Slope
- Noninvertible Matrix
- Nonnegative
- Nonnegative Integers
- Nonreal numbers
- Nontrivial
- Nonzero
- Normal Distribution
- nth Root
- nth Root Rules
- Null Hypothesis
- Number Line
- Numerator
- Oblique
- Oblique Asymptote
- Odd Function
- Odd Number
- One Dimension
- One-to-One Function
- Open Interval
- Order of Operations (PEMDAS)
- Ordinal Numbers
- Ordinate
- Origin
- Outlier Rule (1.5 x IQR)
- Oval
- Overdetermined System of Equations
- p-value
- Parallel Slopes
- Parameter (Statistics)
- Parent Functions
- Parentheses
- Partial Fractions
- Per Annum
- Percent / Percentage
- Percent Change
- Percent Error
- Perfect Number
- Perfect Square
- Perfect Square Trinomial
- Permutation
- Permutation Formula
- Perpendicular Slopes
- Pi (Π π)
- Piecewise Function
- Piecewise Linear Function
- Place Value
- Point of Symmetry
- Point-Slope Equation of a Line
- Polynomial
- Polynomial Facts
- Polynomial Function
- Polynomial Inequality
- Positive Number
- Positive Series
- Power
- Precision
- Present Value
- Prime Factorization
- Prime Number
- Principal
- Probability Distribution
- Product
- Proper Fraction
- Proper Rational Expression
- Proportion
- Proportional
- Quadrants
- Quadratic
- Quadratic Equation
- Quadratic Formula
- Quadratic Function
- Quadratic Polynomial
- Quadratic Regression
- Quadruple
- Quantitative Data
- Quartic Polynomial
- Quintic Polynomial
- Quintuple
- Quotient
- Radical
- Radical Equation
- Radicand
- Random Sample
- Random Variable
- Range
- Rate of Change
- Ratio
- Rational Function
- Rational Numbers
- Rational Root Theorem
- Rationalizing the Denominator
- Real Numbers
- Real Part
- Recursion
- Recursive Formula of a Sequence
- Reduce a Fraction
- Reduced Row-Echelon Form of a Matrix
- Regression Line
- Relation
- Relative Frequency
- Relatively Prime
- Remainder
- Remainder Theorem
- Residual Plot
- Restricted Domain
- Restricted Function
- Rigid Transformation
- RMS
- Root of a Number
- Root of an Equation
- Rotation
- Rounding a Number
- Row of a Matrix
- Row Operations
- Row Reduction
- RPM
- Sampling
- Sampling Bias
- Satisfy
- Scalar Multiplication of a Matrix
- Scale Factor
- Scatterplot
- Scientific Notation
- Sequence
- Series
- Set-Builder Notation
- Sigmoid Function
- Significance Level (Alpha)
- Significant Digits
- Simple Interest
- Simplify
- Simultaneous Equations
- Slope Formula
- Slope of a Line
- Slope-Intercept Equation of a Line
- Solution
- Solve
- Solve Analytically
- Solve Graphically
- Speed
- Square Matrix
- Square Root
- Square Root Rules
- Square System of Equations
- Squeeze Theorem
- Standard Deviation
- Standard Form of a Quadratic
- Statistic
- Step Function
- Strict Inequality
- Sum
- Sum of Cubes
- Surd
- Symmetric
- Symmetric about the Origin
- Symmetric about the x-axis
- Symmetric about the y-axis
- Synthetic Division
- Synthetic Substitution
- System of Inequalities
- Term
- Theoretical Probability
- Time Series
- Transformations
- Translation (Geometry)
- Transpose of a Matrix
- Tree Diagram
- Triangle Inequality with Absolute Value
- Trinomial
- Triple
- Triple Root
- Trivial
- Truncating a Number
- Truth Table
- Twin Primes
- Two Dimensions
- Two Intercept Form for the Equation of a Line
- Two-Way Table
- Type I Error
- Type II Error
- Underdetermined System of Equations
- Uniform
- Unit Rate
- Univariate Data
- Universal Quantifier
- Variable
- Variance
- Vector Space
- Velocity
- Vertex Form
- Vertex of a Hyperbola
- Vertex of a Parabola
- Vertex of an Ellipse
- Vertical Asymptote
- Vertical Compression
- Vertical Dilation
- Vertical Line Equation
- Vertical Line Test
- Vertical Reflection
- Vertical Shift
- Vinculum
- Weighted Average
- Weighted Mean
- x-axis
- x-intercept
- y-axis
- y-intercept
- Z-Score
- Zero
- Zero Matrix
- Zero of a Function
- Zero Product Property
- Zero Property of Multiplication
- Zero Slope
Frequently Asked Questions
What is pre-algebra?
Pre-algebra is a math course typically taken in grades 6-8 that bridges arithmetic and algebra. It introduces variables, basic equations, and proportional reasoning while strengthening skills with fractions, decimals, and percentages.
What should I know before starting algebra?
Before Algebra 1, you should be comfortable with: operations on fractions and decimals, order of operations (PEMDAS), basic exponent rules, ratios and proportions, and solving simple one-step equations.