Math Mastery:

A Guide to Numerical and Algebraic

Excellence

Teacher's name: Batul Aliasgar

Year level: 9
School name: Apple International School
NUMBERS
KEYTERMS
FORMULA’S
ALGEBRA
KEYTERMS
FORMULA’S
BASIC MATH SYMBOLS
 NUMBERS
KEY TERMS

• Natural number: Any whole number from 1 to infinity, sometimes

called ‘counting numbers’ 0 is not included.

• Odd number: A whole number that cannot be divided exactly by 2.

• Even number: A whole number that can be divided exactly by 2.

• Integer: Any of the negative and positive whole numbers, including zero.

• Prime number: A whole number greater than 1 which has only two factors:
the number itself and 1.

• Square number: The product obtained when an integer is multiplied by itself.

• Fraction: A number representing parts of a whole number, can be written as a

𝒂
common (vulgar) fraction in the form of or as a decimal using the decimal
𝒃
point.

• Consecutive Numbers: The numbers that continuously follow each other, one
after another in a regular counting order or in the order from smallest to
largest.

• Sum: A sum is the result of an addition.

• Difference: The 'difference' between two numbers is the result of subtraction.

• Product: ‘Product’ means ‘multiply’.

• Multiples: A multiple of a number is found when you multiply that number by
a positive integer. The first multiple of any number is the number itself (the
number multiplied by 1).

• Factors: A factor is a number that divides exactly into another number with no
remainder.

• The lowest common multiple (LCM): The lowest common multiple of two or
more numbers is the smallest number that is a multiple of all the given
numbers.

• The highest common factor (HCF): The highest common factor of two or
more numbers is the highest number, that is a factor of all the given numbers.

• Prime factors: A prime factor is a natural number, other than 1, whose only
factors are 1 and itself.

• Composite numbers: Composite numbers are numbers that have more than
two factors.

• Power: A power is the number of times a number is used as a factor in a

multiplication problem.

• Square numbers: A number is squared when it is multiplied by itself. For

example, the square of 5 is 5 × 5 = 25. The symbol for squared is 𝟐 So, 5 × 5
can also be written as 𝟓𝟐 .

• Square Root: The square root of a number is the number that was multiplied
by itself to get the square number. The symbol for square root is √ . You
know that 25 = 𝟓𝟐 so √𝟐𝟓 = 5.
• Cube numbers: A number is cubed when it is multiplied by itself and then
multiplied by itself again. For example, the cube of 2 is 2 × 2 × 2 = 8. The
symbol for cubed is 𝟑. So, 2 × 2 × 2 can also be written as 𝟐𝟑 .

• Cube Root: The cube root of a number is the number that was multiplied by
𝟑
itself to get the cube number. The symbol for cube root is √ . You know that
𝟑
8 = 𝟐𝟑 .so, √𝟖 = 𝟐.

• Integers: A whole number (not a fractional number) that can be positive,

negative, or zero.

• Brackets: Brackets act as grouping symbols. Work out any calculations inside
brackets before doing the calculations outside the brackets. Root signs work in
the same way as a bracket.

• Directed Numbers: Directed Numbers are numbers with both size and
direction; one direction is positive, and the other is negative.

• BODMAS: BODMAS stands for Bracket, Of, Division, Multiplication, Addition,

and Subtraction. BODMAS is used to explain the order of operation of a
mathematical expression.

• Decimals: A decimal number contains a decimal point.

• Simplify: Simplification is reducing the expression/fraction/problem in a

simpler form.

• Rounding Number: To round a number to a given decimal place you look at

the value of the digit to the right of the specified place. If it is 5 or greater, you
round up; if it is less than 5, you round down.
• Significant Figures: Significant figures are the number of digits in a value, often
a measurement, that contribute to the degree of accuracy of the value.

• Standard form: Standard form is used to express very small and very large
numbers in a compact and efficient way. In standard form, numbers are
written as a number multiplied by 10 raised to a given power.

• Ordinary Number: Ordinary numbers are the numbers we use for counting
and ordering.

• Estimate: To estimate, the numbers you are using need to be rounded before
you do the calculation.

• Approximation: An approximation is anything that is similar, but not exactly

equal, to something else. A number can be approximated by rounding.

• Equivalent Fraction: Equivalent fractions are the fractions that have different
numerators and denominators but are equal to the same value.

• Numerator: The numerator is the number written on the top of a fraction. It

represents the number of parts taken out of the whole.

• Denominator: Denominator is the bottom number in a fraction. Denominator

represents the total number of equal parts of a whole. Denominator can be 0.
The denominator of like fractions is equal.

• Like Fraction: The group of two or more fractions that have the same
denominator are called like fractions.

• Unlike Fraction: Unlike fractions are fractions that have different

denominators.
• Mixed Fraction: A mixed fraction is a combination of a proper fraction and a
whole number. Usually, it represents a number between any two.

• Percentage: Percentages are fractions with a denominator of 100.

• Indices: An index, or power, is the small floating number that appears after a
number or letter.

• Exponent: Exponent is another word sometimes used to mean ‘index’ or

‘power’. These words can be used interchangeably but ‘index’ is more
commonly used for IGCSE.

• Coefficient: ‘Coefficient’ is the number in the term.

• Reciprocal: Reciprocal is simply defined as the inverse of a value or a number.

• Non-unit Fraction: A non-unit fraction has a numerator (the number on top)

that is not 1.

• Simple Interest: Simple interest is a method to calculate the amount of

interest charged on a sum at a given rate and for a given period.

• Principal: The principal is the amount that was initially borrowed (loan) from
the bank or invested. The principal is denoted by P.

• Rate: Rate is the rate of interest at which the principal amount is given to
someone for a certain time, the rate of interest can be 5%, 10%, or 13%, etc.
The rate of interest is denoted by R.

• Time: Time is the duration for which the principal amount is given to
someone. Time is denoted by T.
• Discount: Discount is the difference between the marked price (list price) and
the selling price of an article.

• Profit: Profit is the money you have left after paying for business expenses.

• Loss: If the cost price is more than the selling price of a product in a business,
it is called a loss.

• Wholesale Price: Wholesale price is the price charged for a product as sold in
bulk to large trade or distributor groups as opposed to what is charged to
consumers.

• Retail Price: The price that a customer will pay when purchasing a product at
a retail store.

• List Price: The list price is the stated value for which something is offered for
sale through a particular channel.

• Ratio: A ratio compares values. A ratio says how much of one thing there is
compared to another thing.

• Proportion: A proportion is an equation in which two ratios are set equal.

 FORMULA’S

• Standard Form = 𝒂 × 𝟏𝟎𝒃, where 𝒂 lies in between 1 – 10.

• Laws Of Indices:

𝑷×𝑹×𝑻
• Simple Interest =
𝟏𝟎𝟎
Where, P = Principal
R = Rate
T = Time
• Discount:

• Profit & Loss:

 ALGEBRA
KEY TERMS

• Algebra: Algebra is a branch of mathematics that uses mathematical

statements to describe relationships between things that vary.

• Variable: Letters in algebra are called variables.

• Coefficients: The number before a letter is called a coefficient.

• Constants: Numbers on their own are called constants.

• Expression: A combination of numbers, variables, and operations (such as

addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division) that represents a
mathematical phrase.

• Equation: A mathematical statement that asserts the equality of two

expressions, often separated by an equal sign.

• Linear Equation: An equation of the first degree (degree 1), meaning the
highest power of the variable is 1.

• Quadratic Equation: An equation of the second degree (degree 2), usually

written in the form 𝒂𝒙𝟐 + 𝒃𝒙 + 𝒄 = 𝟎.

• Inequality: A mathematical sentence that compares the values of two

expressions using symbols such as < (less than), > (greater than), ≤ (less than
or equal to), or ≥ (greater than or equal to).
• Exponent: A small number written above and to the right of another number,
indicating the number of times that the base is multiplied by itself.

• Terms: A group of numbers and variables is called a term. Terms are separated
by + and − signs, but not by × or ÷ signs.

• Like Terms: Like terms have the same combination of variables and powers.
You can add and subtract like terms. You can multiply and divide like and
unlike terms.

• Substitution: The process of replacing a variable in a formula with a specific

value or expression.

• Algebraic Expression: A mathematical phrase involving variables, numbers,

and operations.

• Evaluate: To find the numerical value of an expression or formula by

substituting specific values for the variables.

• Simplifying Expression: Collecting like terms is called simplifying the

expression.

• Factoring: The process of expressing an algebraic expression as the product of

its factors.

• Factorization: Expressing an expression as the product of its factors.

• FOIL Method: A method for multiplying two binomials, standing for First,
Outer, Inner, Last.
• Absolute Value: The distance of a number from zero on the number line,
always positive or zero.

• Inverse Operations: Operations that undo each other, such as addition and
subtraction, or multiplication and division.

• Bracket: A symbol, either "(" and ")", used to group terms in an expression.

• Expand: To multiply out the terms inside parentheses or brackets to simplify

an algebraic expression.

• Multiplication: The operation of combining two or more numbers to obtain a

product.

• Expanding the Expression: Removing brackets (multiplying out) is called

expanding the expression.

• Positive Index (Exponent): An exponent that represents the number of times

a base is multiplied by itself, e.g., 𝒂𝒃, where b is a positive integer.

• Negative Index (Exponent): An exponent that indicates taking the reciprocal

of the base raised to the positive of the absolute value of the exponent, e.g.
𝟏
𝒂−𝒃 = .
𝒂𝒃

• Zero Index (Exponent): Any nonzero number raised to the power of zero is
equal to 1, e.g., 𝒂𝟎 = 𝟏, where a is not equal to zero.
• Fractional Index (Rational Exponent): An exponent that is expressed as a
𝟏
fraction or ratio, indicating the root to be taken, e.g., 𝒂 represents the square
𝟐

root of a.

• Radical: The symbol (√) used to denote the root of a number. For example, √a
represents the square root of a.

• Solution: A value or set of values that makes an equation true when

substituted for the variables.

• System of Equations: A set of two or more equations involving the same

variables.

• Identity: An equation that is true for all values of the variables.

• Common Factor: A factor that is shared by two or more numbers or algebraic

expressions.

• Greatest Common Factor (GCF): The largest factor that divides two or more
numbers or algebraic expressions.

• Monomial: An algebraic expression consisting of only one term.

• Binomial: An algebraic expression consisting of two terms.

• Trinomial: An algebraic expression consisting of three terms.

• Line: A straight path that extends infinitely in both directions.

• Straight Line: A line that does not curve or bend.

• Slope: The measure of the steepness of a line. It is the ratio of the vertical
change (rise) to the horizontal change (run) between two points on the line.

• Gradient: Another term for slope, often used in the context of lines on a
graph.

• Intercept: The point where a line crosses the x-axis or y-axis.

• X-Intercept: The point where a line crosses the x-axis. It has coordinates (x,0).

• Y-Intercept: The point where a line crosses the y-axis. It has coordinates (0, y).

• Equation of a Line: A mathematical expression that describes the relationship

between the x and y coordinates of points on a line.

• Slope-Intercept Form: The equation of a line in the form y = mx + b, where m

is the slope and b is the y - intercept.

• Point-Slope Form: The equation of a line in the form (𝒚 − 𝒚𝟏 ) = 𝒎(𝒙 − 𝒙𝟏),

where (𝒙𝟏 , 𝒚𝟏 ) is a point on the line, and m is the slope.

• Graph: A visual representation of data or mathematical relationships.

• Cartesian Coordinate System: A system of coordinates in a plane determined

by the intersection of perpendicular lines, the x-axis, and the y-axis.
• Coordinate Axes: The x-axis and y-axis in a Cartesian coordinate system.

• Origin: The point (0, 0) where the x-axis and y-axis intersect in a Cartesian
coordinate system.

• Quadrants: The four regions created by the intersection of the x-axis and y-
axis in a Cartesian coordinate system.

• Plotting: Marking points on a graph based on given coordinates.

• Linear Equation in Two Variables: An equation that represents a straight line

when graphed.

• Line Segment: A part of a line between two distinct endpoints.

• Parallel Lines: Lines in the same plane that do not intersect and have the
same slope.

• Perpendicular Lines: Lines that intersect at a right angle, with slopes that are
negative reciprocals of each other.

• Horizontal Line: A line parallel to the x-axis, with a slope of 0.

• Vertical Line: A line parallel to the y-axis, with an undefined slope.

• Function: A relation in which each input (x-value) is associated with exactly
one output (y-value).

• Graphical Representation: Representing data or mathematical relationships

visually using graphs.
 FORMULA’S

1. Basic Arithmetic:

• Addition: a + b

• Subtraction: a – b

• Multiplication: a × b or ab

𝒂
• Division: or a ÷ b
𝒃

2. Exponents and Radicals:

• Power Rule: 𝒂𝒏 × 𝒂𝒎 = 𝒂𝒏+𝒎

• Product Rule: (𝒂𝒃)𝒏 = 𝒂𝒏 × 𝒃𝒏

𝒂𝒏
• Quotient Rule: = 𝒂𝒏−𝒎
𝒂𝒎

• Square Root: √𝒂

3. Linear Equations:

• Slope-Intercept Form: y = mx + b

• Point-Slope Form: (𝒚 − 𝒚𝟏 ) = 𝒎(𝒙 − 𝒙𝟏)

4. Quadratic Equations:

• Standard Form: 𝒂𝒙𝟐 + 𝒃𝒙 + 𝒄 = 𝟎.

−𝒃±√𝒃𝟐 −𝟒𝒂𝒄
• Quadratic Formula: 𝒙 =
𝟐𝒂

5. Inequalities:

• a < b: a is less than b.

• a > b: a is greater than b.

• a ≤ b: a is less than or equal to b.

• a ≥ b: a is greater than or equal to b.

6. FOIL Method:

"FOIL" is an acronym that stands for "First, Outer, Inner, Last," which represents the
order in which you multiply the terms of the binomials.
MATH SYMBOLS