4th Grade Math Vocabulary

Lesson 1:
1. Addends: The numbers added in an addition problem that are combined to form
a sum.
2. Addition: An operation that combines two or more numbers to find a total
number.
3. Commutative Property of Addition: Changing the order of addends does not
affect their sum. In symbolic form, a + b = b + a. Unlike addition, subtraction is
not commutative.
4. Identity Property of Addition: The sum of any number and 0 is equal to the initial
number. In symbolic form, a + 0 = a. The number 0 is referred to as the additive
identity.
5. Number Sentence: A complete sentence that uses numbers and symbols, but not
words.
6. Sum: The result of addition.
Lesson 3:
1. Counting Numbers: The numbers used to count; the numbers in the sequence: 1,
2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, …
2. Digits: Any of the symbols used to write numbers: 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9.
3. Sequence: A list of numbers arranged according to a certain rule.
Lesson 4:
1. Place Value: The value of a digit based on its position within a number.
Lesson 5:
1. Ordinal Numbers: Numbers that describe position or order.
Lesson 6:
1. Difference: The result of subtraction.
2. Fact Family: A group of three numbers related by addition and subtraction or by
multiplication and division.
3. Subtraction: The arithmetic operation that reduces a number by an amount
determined by another number.
4. Minus: To take away or subtract.
Lesson 7:
1. Whole Numbers: All the numbers in a sequence: 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9,…
2. Hyphen: A punctuation mark (-) used to connect the compound parts of words
such as twenty-one.
Lesson 10:
 1. Even Numbers: Numbers that can be divided by 2 without a remainder; the
numbers in this sequence: 0, 2, 4, 6, 8, 10,…
2. Odd Numbers: Numbers that have a remainder of 1 when divided by 2; any one
of the numbers in this sequence: 1, 3, 5, 7, 9, 11,…
Investigation 1:
1. Line: A straight collection of points extending in opposite directions without end.
2. Line Segment: A part of a line with two distinct endpoints.
3. Negative Numbers: Numbers less than zero.
4. Number Line: A line for representing and graphing numbers. Each point on the
line corresponds to the number.
5. Positive Numbers: Numbers greater than zero.
Lesson 13:
1. Bills: In this lesson, legal paper money.
Lesson 15:
1. Borrowing: See regrouping.
2. Exchanging: See regrouping.
3. Regrouping: Rearranging quantities in place values of numbers during
calculations.
Lesson 16:
1. Expanded Form: A way of writing a number that shows the value of each digit.
Lesson 18:
1. Celsius: A scale used on some thermometers to measure temperature.
2. Fahrenheit: A scale used on some thermometers to measure temperature.
3. Scale: A type of number line used to measure things.
Lesson 19:
1. A.M.: The period of time from midnight to just before noon.
2. P.M.: The period of time from noon to just before midnight.
Investigation 2:
1. Metric System: An international system of measurement based on multiples of
ten. Also called International System.
2. Perimeter: The distance around a closed, flat shape.
3. U.S. Customary System: A system of measurement used almost exclusively in
the United States.
Lesson 21:
 1. Center: The point inside a circle from which all points on the circle are equally
distant.
2. Compass: A tool used to draw circles and arcs.
3. Diameter: The distance across a circle through its center.
4. Radius: (Plural: radii) The distance from the center of a circle to a point on the
circle.
5. Pivot Point: The point on a compass on which the compass rotates when drawing
a circle.
Lesson 22:
1. Decimal Point: A dot used to separate the ones place from the tenths place in
decimal numbers (or dollars from cents in money).
2. Denominator: The bottom number of a fraction; the number that tells how many
parts are in a whole.
3. Equation: A number sentence that uses the symbol “=” to show that two
quantities are equal.
4. Fraction: A number that names part of a whole.
5. Numerator: The top number of a fraction; the number that tells how many parts of
a whole are counted.
Lesson 23:
1. Acute Angles: Angles whose measures are more than 0° and less than 90°.
2. Angles: The openings that are formed when two lines or line segments are
intersect.
3. Endpoints: The points at which line segments end.
4. Intersect: To share a common point or points.
5. Line: A straight collection of points extending in opposite directions without end.
6. Line Segment: A part of a line with two distinct endpoints.
7. Obtuse Angles: Angles whose measures are more than 90° and less than 180°.
8. Parallel Lines: Lines that stay the same distance apart; lines that do not cross.
9. Perpendicular Lines: Two lines that intersect at right angles.
10. Ray: A part of a line that begins at a point and continues without end in one
direction.
11. Right Angle: An angle that forms a square corner and measures 90°. It is often
marked with a small square.
12. Vertex: (Plural: vertices) A point of an angle, polygon, or polyhedron where two
or more lines, rays, or segments meet.
Lesson 27:
1. Elapsed Time: The difference between the starting time and the ending time of
an event.
2. Multiplication: An operation that uses a number as an addend a specified number
of times.
Lesson 28:
1. Commutative Property of Multiplication: Changing the order of factors does not
affect their product. In symbolic terms, a x b = b x a. Unlike multiplication,
division is not commutative.
2. Factor: Any one of the numbers multiplied in a multiplication problem.
3. Identity Property of Multiplication: The product of any number and 1 is equal to
the initial number. In symbolic form, a x 1 = a. The number 1 is referred to as
the multiplicative identity.
4. Product: The result of multiplication.
5. Property of Zero for Multiplication: Zero times any number is zero. In symbolic
form, 0 x a = 0.
Investigation 3:
1. Area: The number of square units needed to cover a surface.
2. Array: A rectangular arrangement of numbers or symbols in columns and rows.
3. Perfect Square: See square number.
4. Square Number: The product when a whole number is multiplied by itself.
5. Square Root: One of two equal factors of a number. The symbol for the
principal, or positive, square root of a number is √ .
Lesson 35:
1. Mixed Number: A whole number and a fraction together.
Lesson 37:
1. Consecutive: Following one after another in order; for example, the numbers 1, 2,
3, 4,…
Lesson 40:
1. Capacity: The amount of liquid a container can hold.
2. Decimal Number: A numeral that contains a decimal point.
Lesson 45:
1. Associative Property of Addition: The grouping of addends does not affect their
sum. In symbolic form, a + (b + c) = (a + b) + c. Unlike addition, subtraction is
not associative.
2. Associative Property of Multiplication: The grouping of factors does not affect
their product. In symbolic form, a x (b x c) = (a x b) x c. Unlike multiplication,
division is not associative.
3. Endpoints: The points at which a line segment ends.
Lesson 46:
 1. Division: An operation that separates a number into a given number of equal
parts or into a number of parts of a given size.
Investigation 5:
1. Percent: A fraction whose denominator of 100 is expressed as a percent sign
(%).
Lesson 53:
1. Remainder: An amount that is left after division.
Lesson 54:
1. Calendar: A chart that shows the days of the week and their dates.
2. Century: A period of 100 years.
3. Common Years: Years with 365 days, not leap years.
4. Decade: A period of ten years.
5. Leap Year: A year with 366 days, not a common year.
Lesson 55:
1. Factor: Any one of the numbers multiplied in a multiplication problem.
2. Multiple: A product of a counting number and another number.
Lesson 56:
1. Congruent: Having the same shape and size.
Lesson 57:
1. Rate: A measure of how far or how many are in one time group.
Lesson 59:
1. Estimate: To find an appropriate value.
2. Reasonable: Sensible.
Investigation 6:
1. Bar Graphs: Graphs that use rectangles (bars) to show numbers or
measurements.
2. Circle Graphs: Graphs made of a circle divided into sectors. Also called pie
graphs.
3. Line Graphs: Graphs that connect points to show how information changes over
time.
4. Pictographs: Graphs that use symbols to represent data.
Lesson 62:
1. Base: The lower number in an exponential expression.
 2. Exponent: The upper number in an exponential expression; it shows how many
times the base is to be used as a factor.

Lesson 63:
1. Polygons: Closed, flat shapes with straight sides.
2. Regular Polygon: A polygon in which all sides have equal length and all angles
have equal measure.
Lesson 65:
1. Dividend: A number that is divided.
2. Divisor: A number by which another number is divided.
3. Quotient: The result of division.
Lesson 66:
1. Congruent: Having the same size and shape.
2. Similar: Having the same shape, but not necessarily the same size. Similar
figures have matching angles and proportional sides.
Investigation 7:
1. Bias: Favoring one choice over another in a survey.
2. Population: A group of people about whom information is gathered during a
survey.
3. Sample: A part of a population used to conduct a survey.
4. Survey: A method of collecting data about a particular population.
5. Tally Marks: Small marks used to help keep track of a count.
Lesson 73:
1. Geometry: A major branch of mathematics that deals with shapes, sizes, and
other properties of figures.
2. Reflection: Flipping a figure to produce a mirror image.
3. Rotation: Turning a figure about a specified point called the center of rotation.
4. Transformation: Changing a figure’s position through rotation, reflection, or
translation.
5. Translation: Sliding a figure from one position to another without turning or
flipping the figure.
6. Orientation: Position.
7. Reorient: Change the position of.
Lesson 74:
1. Set: A group of objects.
Lesson 75:
 1. Clockwise: The same direction as the movement of a clock’s hands.
2. Counterclockwise: The direction opposite of the movement of a clock’s hands.
3. Degree: A unit for measuring angles.
Lesson 78:
1. Acute Triangle: A triangle whose largest angle measures more than 0° and less
than 90°.
2. Equilateral Triangle: A triangle in which all the sides are the same length.
3. Isosceles Triangle: A triangle with at least two sides of the same length.
4. Obtuse Triangle: A triangle whose largest angle measures more than 90° and
less than 180°.
5. Right Triangle: A triangle whose largest angle measures 90°.
6. Scalene Triangle: A triangle with three sides of different lengths.
Lesson 79:
1. Line of Symmetry: A line that divides a figure into two halves that are mirror
images of each other.
2. Symmetry: Correspondence in size and shape on either side of a dividing line.
This type of symmetry is known as reflective symmetry.
Lesson 81:
1. Straight Angle: An angle that measures 180° and thus forms a straight line.
Lesson 82:
1. Tessellation: The repeated use of shapes to fill a flat surface without gaps or
overlaps.
Lesson 83:
1. Sales Tax: The tax charged on the sale of an item and based upon the item’s
purchase price.
Lesson 89:
1. Improper Fraction: Fractions with a numerator greater than or equal to the
denominator.
Investigation 9:
1. Reduce: To rewrite a fraction in lowest terms.
Lesson 92:
1. Parallelogram: A quadrilateral that has two pairs of parallel sides.
2. Rectangle: A quadrilateral that has four right angles.
3. Rhombus: A parallelogram with all four sides of equal length.
 4. Square: A rectangle with all four sides of equal length.
5. Trapezoid: A quadrilateral with exactly one pair of parallel sides.

Lesson 96:
1. Average: The number found when the sum of two or more numbers is divided by
the number of addends in the sum; also called mean.
Lesson 97:
1. Mean: The number found when the sum of two or more numbers is divided by
the number of addends in the sum; also called average.
2. Median: The middle number (or the average of the two central numbers) of a list
of data when the numbers are arranged in order from the least to the greatest.
3. Mode: The number or numbers that appear most often in a list of data.
4. Outlier: A number in a list of data that is distant from the other numbers in the list.
5. Range: The difference between the largest number and the smallest number in a
list.
Lesson 98:
1. Edge: A line segment formed where two faces of a polyhedron intersect.
2. Face: A flat surface of a geometric solid.
3. Geometric Solid: A shape that takes up space.
4. Vertex (Plural: vertices): A point of an angle, polygon, or polyhedron where two
or more lines, rays, or segments meet.
Lesson 99:
1. Notations: Symbols used to represent a quantity of something.
Lesson 100:
1. Optical Illusion: A visual effect that tricks you into thinking you are seeing
something that is not actually there.
Investigation 10:
1. Chance: A way of expressing the likelihood of an event; the probability of an
event expressed as a percent.
2. Probability: The likelihood that something will happen. Probability can be
expressed as a fraction with the number of favorable outcomes as the numerator
and the number of possible outcomes as the denominator.
3. Sectors: Regions bordered by part of a circle and two radii.
Lesson 101:
 1. Schedule: A list of event organized by the times at which they are planned to
occur.
2. Table: A way of organizing data in columns and rows.

Lesson 106:
1. Evaluate: To find the value of an expression.
Lesson 108:
1. Distributive Property of Multiplication: A number times the sum of two addends is
equal to the sum of that same number times each individual addend:
a x (b + c) = (a x b) + (a x c)
2. Formula: A rule, fact, or relationship expressed by an equation.
Lesson 109:
1. Equivalent Fractions: Different fractions that name the same amount.
Investigation 11:
1. Cubic Units: Cubes with edges of designated length. Cubic units are used to
measure volume.
2. Volume: The amount of space a sold shape occupies. Volume is measured in
cubic units.
Lesson 116:
1. Common Denominators: Denominators that are the same.
2. Least Common Denominator: The least common multiple of the denominators of
two or more fractions.
Investigation 12:
1. Equation: A number sentence that uses the symbol “=” to show that two
quantities are equal.