Absolute Value of a Complex

Number
Modulus of a Complex Number
Affine Transformation

Aleph Null
Alternating Series Remainder

Annulus/Washer
Antipodal Points

Argand Plane /Complex Plane

Argument of a Complex
Number/
Polar Angle of a Complex
Number
Argument of a Function

Argument of a Vector
ASA Congruence

The distance between a complex number and the origin on

the complex plane
A transformation which involves any combination of
translations, reflections, stretches, shrinks, or rotations.
Note: Collinearity and concurrency are invariant under
affine transformations.
cardinality of a countably infinite set.
A quantity that measures how accurately the nth partial
sum of an alternating series estimates the sum of the
series.
The region between two concentric circles which have
different radii.
Two points directly opposite each other on a sphere. That
is, two points on opposite ends of a sphere's diameter.
Note: For a sphere, antipodal means the same thing as
diametrically opposed.
The coordinate plane used to graph complex numbers. The
x-axis is called the real axis and the y-axis is called the
imaginary axis. The complex number x + yi is graphed as
the point (x, y).
The angle describing the direction of a complex number on
the complex plane. The argument is measured in radians
as an angle in standard position.
For a complex number in polar form r(cos + isin ) the
argument is .
The variable, term or expression on which a function
operates.
For example, the argument of is x, the argument of
sin(2A) is 2A, and the argument of e x 5 is x 5. The
argument of f(x) is x.
The angle describing the direction of a vector. The
argument is measured as an angle in standard position.
Angle-side-angle congruence. When two triangles have
corresponding angles and sides that are congruent as

Asymptote

A line or curve that the graph of a relation approaches

more and more closely the further the graph is followed.

Augmented Matrix

A matrix form of a linear system of equations obtained

from the coefficient matrix as shown below. It is created by
adding an additional column for the constants on the right
of the equal signs. The new column is set apart by a
vertical line.

Average Value of a Function

The average height of the graph of a function. For y = f(x)

over the domain [a, b], the formula for average value is
given below.

Back-Substitution

Bearing

Bernoulli Trials

Boundary Value Problem

BVP

Bounded Set of Geometric Points

Box-and-Whisker Plot

Boxplot/
Modified Boxplot

The process of solving a linear system of equations that

has been transformed into row-echelon form or reduced
row-echelon form. The last equation is solved first, then
the next-to-last, etc
Two similar ways of indicating direction

An experiment in which a single action, such as flipping a

coin, is repeated identically over and over. The possible
results of the action are classified as "success" or "failure".
The binomial probability formula is used to find
probabilities for Bernoulli trials.
Note: With Bernoulli trials, the repeated actions must all
be independent.
A differential equation or partial differential equation
accompanied by conditions for the value of the function
but with no conditions for the value of any derivatives.
Note: Boundary value problem is often abbreviated BVP.
A figure or a set of points in a plane or in space that can
be enclosed in a finite rectangle or box.
A visual display of the five number summary. A simplified
boxplot taught to beginners. It does not show outliers. The
whiskers extending all the way to the minimum and
maximum values regardless of how far out they may be.

A data display that shows the five-number summary. The

whiskers, stretching outward from the first quartile and
third quartile as shown below, are no longer than 1.5
times the interquartile range (IQR). Outliers beyond that
are marked separately.
Note: Beginners are sometimes taught to draw box-andwhisker plots, which do not show outliers. Modified boxplot

is a name sometimes used for boxplots to distinguish

them from box-and-whisker plots.

Brachistochrone

A cycloid hanging downwards. Also a tautochrone, the

bead will take the same amount of time to reach the
bottom no matter how high or low the release point.

Cardinal Numbers

The numbers 1, 2, 3, . . . as well as some types of infinity.

Cardinal numbers are used to describe the number of
elements in either finite or infinite sets.
A curve that is somewhat heart shaped. A cardioid can be
drawn by tracing the path of a point on a circle as the
circle rolls around a fixed circle of the same radius. The
equation is usually written in polar coordinates.

Cardioid

Note: A cardioid is a special case of the limaon family of

curves.
Cardioid: r = a a cos (horizontal) or r = a a sin
(vertical)

Cavalieris Principle

Ceiling Function/
Least Integer Function
Ceva's Theorem

A method, with formula given below, of finding the volume

of any solid for which cross-sections by parallel planes
have equal areas. This includes, but is not limited to,
cylinders and prisms.
Formula:
Volume = Bh, where B is the area of a cross-section and h
is the height of the solid.
A step function of x which is the least integer greater than
or equal to x
A theorem relating the way three concurrent cevians of a
triangle divide the triangle's three sides.

Cevian

A line segment, ray, or line that extends from a vertex of a

triangle to the opposite side (which may be extended).
Medians, altitudes, and angle bisectors are all examples of
cevians.

Coincident

Identical, one superimposed on the other. That is, two or

more geometric figures that share all points. For example,
two coincident lines would look like one line since one is
on top of the other.
Lying on the same line.
An assertion about the complex zeros of any polynomial
which has real numbers as coefficients.
system of equations that has at least one solution.

Collinear
Conjugate Pair Theorem
Consistent System of Equations

Absolute Convergence/
Absolutely Convergent

Conditional Convergence

Convergent Sequence

Cusp

De Moivres Theorem

Deciles
Definite Integral

Describes a series that converges when all terms are

replaced by their absolute values. To see if a series
converges absolutely, replace any subtraction in the series
with addition. If the new series converges, then the
original series converges absolutely.
Describes a series that converges but does not converge
absolutely. That is, a convergent series that will become a
divergent series if all negative terms are made positive.

A sequence with a limit that is a real number. For example,

the sequence 2.1, 2.01, 2.001, 2.0001, . . . has limit 2, so
the sequence converges to 2. On the other hand, the
sequence 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, . . . has a limit of infinity (). This
is not a real number, so the sequence does not converge.
It is a divergent sequence.
A sharp point on a curve. Note: Cusps are points at which
functions and relations are not differentiable.

A formula useful for finding powers and roots of complex

numbers.
The 10th and 90th percentiles of a set of data.
An integral which is evaluated over an interval. A definite

integral is
written . Definite integrals are used
to find the area between the graph of a function and the x-

Degenerate

axis. There are many other applications.

A degenerate triangle is the "triangle" formed by three
collinear points. It doesnt look like a triangle, it looks like
a line segment.
A parabola may be thought of as a degenerate ellipse with
one vertex at an infinitely distant point.
Degenerate examples can be used to test the general
applicability of formulas or concepts. Many of the formulas
developed for triangles (such as area formulas) apply to
degenerate triangles as well.

Deleted Neighborhood

The proper name for a set such as {x: 0 < |x a| < }.

Deleted neighborhoods are encountered in the study of
limits. It is the set of all numbers less than units away
from a, omitting the number a itself.

Descartes' Rule of Signs

A method for determining the maximum number of

positive zeros for a polynomial. This maximum is the
number of sign changes in the polynomial when written as
shown below.

Difference Quotient

Dihedral Angle
Dilation

Diverge
Equivalence Relation

Explicit Function

Extreme Value Theorem/

Min/Max Theorem

For a function f, the formula

. This formula
computes the slope of the secant line through two points
on the graph of f. These are the points with x-coordinates
x and x + h. The difference quotient is used in the
definition the derivative.
An angle formed by intersecting planes.
A transformation in which a figure grows larger. Dilations
may be with respect to a point (dilation of a geometric
figure) or with respect to the axis of a graph (dilation of a
graph).
To fail to approach a finite limit.
Any relation that satisfies the reflexive, symmetric, and
transitive properties. For example, modular equivalence is
an equivalence relation. So is cardinality of a set.
A function in which the dependent variable can be written
explicitly in terms of the independent variable.
For example, the following are explicit functions: y = x2
3,
, and y = log2 x.
A theorem which guarantees the existence of an absolute
max and an absolute min for any continuous function over
a closed interval.

Extreme Values of a Polynomial

Extremum

Fibonacci Sequence

Reflection/
Flip
Fractal

The graph of a polynomial of degree n has at most n 1

extreme values (minima and/or maxima). The total
number of extreme values could be n 1 or n 3 or n 5
etc.
An extreme value of a function. In other words, the
minima and maxima of a function. Extrema may be either
relative (local) or absolute (global).
Note: The first derivative test and the second derivative
test are common methods used to find extrema.
The sequence of numbers 1, 1, 2, 3, 5, 8, 13, 21, 34, . . .
for which the next term is found by adding the previous
two terms. This sequence is encountered in many settings,
from population models to botany.
Note: The sequence of ratios of consecutive terms has the
Golden Mean as its limit.
A transformation in which a geometric figure is reflected
across a line, creating a mirror image. That line is called
the axis of reflection.
A figure that is self-similar. That is, no matter how far you
zoom in on the figure, the portion you look at is similar to
the original figure. The Koch edge, below, is a fractal.
Note: The word fractal is often used loosely to describe
figures that do not quite meet this definition.

Fundamental Theorem of
Algebra

The theorem that establishes that, using complex

numbers, all polynomials can be factored. A generalization
of the theorem asserts that any polynomial of degree n
has exactly n zeros, counting multiplicity.
Fundamental Theorem of Algebra:
A polynomial p(x) = anxn + an1xn1 + + a2x2 + a1x + a0
with degree n at least 1 and with coefficients that may be
real or complex must have a factor of the form x r, where
r may be real or complex.

Fundamental Theorem of
Arithmetic

The assertion that prime factorizations are unique. That is,

if you have found a prime factorization for
a positive integer then you have found the only such
factorization. There is no different factorization lurking out
there somewhere.

Fundamental Theorem of
Calculus

The theorem that establishes the connection

between derivatives, antiderivatives, and definite
integrals. The fundamental theorem of calculus is typically
given in two parts.

Gaussian Integer

A complex number of the form a + bi for which

both a and b are integers. For example, 2 + 3i, 8 7i, 5,
and 12i are all Gaussian integers.
The transformation that is a combination of
a reflection and a translation.

Glide Reflection

Golden Mean
Golden Ratio

The number
, or about 1.61803. The Golden Mean
arises in many settings, particularly in connection with
the Fibonacci sequence. Note: The reciprocal of the Golden
Mean is about 0.61803, so the Golden Mean equals its
reciprocal plus one. It is also a root of x2 x 1 = 0.
Note: The Greek letter phi, , is often used as a symbol for
the Golden Mean. Occasionally the Greek letter tau, , is
used as well.

Golden Rectangle

Golden Rectangle
A rectangle which has its ratio of length to width equal to
the Golden Mean. This is supposedly the rectangle which is most
pleasing to the eye.

Golden Spiral

A spiral that can be drawn in a golden rectangle as shown

below. The figure forming the structure for the spiral is
made up entirely of squares and golden rectangles.

Googol
Googolplex

The number 10100. This number can be written as a 1

followed by 100 zeros.
The number 10googol, or 1 followed by a googol number
of zeros. This is reputed to be the largest number with a
name.
Note: This can also be written 10(10^100).

Third Quartile
High Quartile
Higher Quartile
Q3

For a set of data, a number for which 75% of the data is

less than that number. The third quartile is the same as
the median of the part of the data which is greater than
the median. Same as 75th percentile.

Removable Discontinuity
Hole

A hole in a graph. That is, a discontinuity that can be

"repaired" by filling in a single point. In other words, a
removable discontinuity is a point at which a graph is not
connected but can be made connected by filling in a single
point.
Formally, a removable discontinuity is one at which
the limit of the function exists but does not equal the
value of the function at that point; this may be because
the function does not exist at that point.

Inconsistent System of Equations Note: Attempts to solve inconsistent systems typically

result in impossible statements such as 0 = 3.

Indefinite Integral

The family of functions that have a given function as a

common derivative. The indefiniteintegral of f(x) is written

 f(x) dx.

Independent Variable

Induction

A method for proving a proposition that is valid

for infinitely many different values of avariable. For
example, it can be used to prove the formula 1 + 2 + 3 +
4+...+n=

Infinitesimal

A hypothetical number that is larger than zero but smaller

than any positive real number. Although the existence of
such numbers makes no sense in the real number system,
many worthwhile results can be obtained by overlooking
this obstacle.
Note: Sometimes numbers that aren't really infinitesimals
are called infinitesimals anyway. The word infinitesimal is
occasionally used for tiny positive real numbers that are
nearly equal to zero.

Inflection Point

A point at which a curve changes from concave

up to concave down, or vice-versa.
Note: If a function has a second derivative, the value of
the second derivative is either 0 or undefined at each of
that function's inflection points.

Intermediate Value Theorem

IVT

A theorem verifying that the graph of a continuous

function is connected.

Interval of Convergence

For a power series in one variable, the set of values of the

variable for which the seriesconverges. The interval of
convergence may be as small as a single point or as large
as the set of all real numbers.

Invariant

A word describing of a property which can not be changed

by a given transformation.

Invertible Matrix
Nonsingular Matrix

A square matrix which has an inverse.

A matrix is nonsingular if and only if its determinantdoes
not equal zero.

Step Discontinuity
Jump Discontinuity

Step Discontinuity
Jump Discontinuity
A discontinuity for which the graph steps or jumps from one
connected piece of the graph to another. Formally, it is a
discontinuity for which the limits from the left and right both exist
but are not equal to each other.

Lemma

Lemma
A helping theorem. A lemma is proven true, just like a
theorem, but is not interesting or important enough to be
a theorem. It is of interest only because it is a stepping
stone towards the proof of a theorem.

Lemniscate

A curve usually expressed in polar coordinates that resembles a

figure eight.

Limaon

A famliy of related curves usually expressed in polar

coordinates. The cardioid is a special kind of limaon.
Limaon: r = b + a cos (horizontal, pictured
below) or r = b + a sin (vertical)

Note: If a = b the curve is a cardioid.

Maclaurin Series

The power series in x for a function f(x).

Expected Value
Mean of a Random Variable

A quantity equal to the average result of

an experiment after a large number of trials. For example,
if a fair 6-sided die is rolled, the expected value of the
number rolled is 3.5. This is a correct interpretation even
though it is impossible to roll a 3.5 on a 6-sided die. This
sort of thing often occurs with expected values.

Mean Value Theorem

A major theorem of calculus that relates values of

a function to a value of its derivative. Essentially the
theorem states that for a "nice" function, there is
a tangent line parallel to anysecant line.

Mean Value Theorem for

Integrals

A variation of the mean value theorem which guarantees

that a continuous function has at least one point where
the function equals the average value of the function.

Menelauss Theorem
Theorem of Menelaus

A theorem relating the way two cevians of

a triangle divide each other and two of the triangle'ssides.

Extreme Value Theorem

Min/Max Theorem

A theorem which guarantees the existence of an absolute

max and an absolute min for anycontinuous function over
a closed interval.

Mbius Strip
Mobius Strip
Moebius Strip

A one-sided surface pictured below. A model of a Mbius

strip model can be made by taking a strip of paper and
taping the two ends together with a half-turn in the
middle. Note: In addition to having only one "face", a
Mbius strip also only has one "edge".

Modular Arithmetic

Regular addition, subtraction, and multiplication, but with

the answer given modulo n.

Modular Equivalence

Two integers are equivalent mod n if they leave the

same remainder when divided by n.
For example, 5 and 17 are equivalent mod 4 since they
both have remainder 1 when divided by 4. We write
5 17 (mod 4).

Modulo n
Modular Numbers

The value of an integer modulo n is equal to

the remainder left when the number is divided byn.
Modulo n is usually written mod n.

Modus Ponens

A logical argument of this form:

Modus Tolens

A logical argument of the form shown below. This is

essentially the argument employed inproof by
contradiction.

Multivariable Calculus
Multivariable Analysis
Vector Calculus

The use of calculus (limits, derivatives, and integrals) with

two or more independent variables, or two or
more dependent variables. This can be thought of as the
calculus of three dimensionalfigures.
Common elements of multivariable calculus
include parametric equations, vectors, partial derivatives,
multiple integrals, line integrals, and surface integrals.
Most of multivariable calculus is beyond the scope of this
website.

Negatively Associated Data

A relationship in paired data in which one variable's values

tend to increase when the other decreases, and viceversa. In a scatterplot, negatively associated data tend to
follow a pattern from the upper left to the lower right.
Negatively associated data have a negative correlation
coefficient.

Neighborhood

A neighborhood of a number a is any open

interval containing a. One common notation for a
neighborhood of a is {x: |x a| < }. Using interval
notation this would be (a , a + ).

Newton's Method

An iterative process using derivatives that can often (but

not always) be used to find zeros of
adifferentiable function. The basic idea is to start with an
approximate guess for the zero, then use
the formula below to turn that guess into a better
approximation. This process is repeated until, after only a
few steps, the approximation is extremely close to the
actual value of the zero.

Non-Euclidean Geometry

Nontrivial

Mesh of a Partition
Norm of a Partition

Taylor Polynomial
nth Degree Taylor Polynomial

Any system of geometry in which the parallel

postulate does not hold. Two commonly studied nonEuclidean geometries are hyperbolic geometry and elliptic
geometry. Elliptic geometry is also known as Riemannian
geometry.
A solution or example that is not trivial. Often, solutions or
examples involving the numberzero are considered
trivial. Nonzero solutions or examples are considered
nontrivial.
The width of the largest sub-interval in a partition.

An approximation of a function using terms from the

function's Taylor series. An nth degree Taylor polynomial
uses all the Taylor series terms up to and including the
term using the nth derivative.

One-to-One Function

A function for which every element of the range of the

function corresponds to exactly one element of
the domain. One-to-one is often written 1-1.
Note: y = f(x) is a function if it passes the vertical line test.
It is a 1-1 function if it passes both the vertical line test
and the horizontal line test. Another way of testing
whether a function is 1-1 is given below.

Overdetermined System of
Equations

A linear system of equations in which there are

more equations than there are variables. For example, a
system with three equations and only two unknowns is
overdetermined. Note that an overdetermined system
might be either consistent or inconsistent, depending on
the equations.

Pappuss Theorem
Theorem of Pappus

A method for finding the volume of a solid of revolution.

The volume equals the product of the area of the region
being rotated times the distance traveled by
the centroid of the region in one rotation

Parametrize

To write in terms of parametric equations.

Piecewise Continuous Function

Example:
The line x + y = 2 can be parametrized as x = 1 + t, y = 1
t.
A function made up of a finite number
of continuous pieces. Piecewise continuous functions may
not have vertical asymptotes. In fact, the only possible
types of discontinuities for a piecewise continuous
function are removable and step discontinuities.

Pinching Theorem
Sandwich Theorem
Squeeze Theorem

A theorem which allows the computation of the limit of

an expression by trapping the expression between two
other expressions which have limits that are easier to
compute.

Power Series

A series which represents a function as a polynomial that

goes on forever and has no highestpower of x.

Power Series Convergence

A theorem that states the three alternatives for the way

a power series may converge.

Quartiles

The collective term for the first quartile and third

quartile of a set of data. That is, the 25th and
75th percentiles.

Quintic Polynomial

A polynomial of degree 5.
Examples: x5 x3 + x, y5 + y4 + y3 + y2 + y + 1, and
42a3b2.

Quintiles

The 20th and 80th percentiles of a set of data.

Quintuple

Multiple of Five

Radius of Convergence

The distance between the center of a power

series' interval of convergence and its endpoints. If
the series only converges at a single point, the radius of
convergence is 0. If the series converges over all real
numbers, the radius of convergence is .

Rational Root Theorem

Rational Zero Theorem

A theorem that provides a complete list of

possible rational roots of
the polynomial equationanxn + an1xn1 +
+ a2x2 + a1x + a0 = 0 where all coefficients are integers.
This list consists of all possible numbers of the form c/d,
where c and d are integers. c must divide evenly into
the constant term a0. d must divide evenly into the leading
coefficient an.

Recursive Formula

For a sequence a1, a2, a3, . . . , an, . . . a recursive formula

is a formula that requires thecomputation of all
previous terms in order to find the value of an .
Note: Recursion is an example of an iterative procedure.

Remainder of a Series

The difference between the nth partial sum and

the sum of a series.

Elliptic Geometry
Riemannian Geometry

A non-Euclidean geometry in which there are no parallel

lines. This geometry is usually thought of as taking place
on the surface of a sphere. The "lines" are great circles,
and the "points" are pairs of diametrically opposed points.
As a result, all "lines" intersect.

Rolle's Theorem
A theorem of calculus that ensures the existence of
a critical point between any two points on a
"nice" function that have the same y-value.

Rose Curve

A smooth curve with leaves arranged symmetrically about

a common center.
Note: The examples below all have polar
equations using cosine. Sine may be used as well.

Row-Echelon Form of a Matrix

Echelon Form of a Matrix

A matrix form used when solving linear systems of

equations.

Pinching Theorem
Sandwich Theorem
Squeeze Theorem

A theorem which allows the computation of the limit of

an expression by trapping the expression between two
other expressions which have limits that are easier to
compute.

Scatterplot

A graph of paired data in which the data values are plotted

as (x, y) points.

Simpson's Rule

Skew Lines

A method for approximating a definite integral

using parabolic approximations of f. The parabolas are
drawn as shown below.
Lines in three dimensional space that do not intersect and
are not parallel.

Extraneous Solution
Spurious Solution

A solution of a simplified version of an equation that does

not satisfy the original equation. Watch out for extraneous
solutions when solving equations with a variable in
the denominatorof a rational expression, with a variable in
the argument of a logarithm, or a variable as
theradicand in an nth root when n is an even number.

Surd

An irrational number that can be expressed as a radical,

such as
or
.

Surface of Revolution

A surface that is obtained by rotating

a plane curve in space about an axis coplanar to the
curve.
A cycloid hanging downwards.
The power series in x a for a function f . Note: If a = 0
the series is called a Maclaurin series.

Tautochrone
Taylor Series

Taylor Series Remainder

A quantity that measures how accurately a Taylor

polynomial estimates the sum of a Taylor series.

Tessellate

To cover a plane with identically shaped pieces which do not

overlap or leave blank spaces. The pieces do not have to be
oriented identically. A tessellation may use tiles of one, two,
three, or any finite number of shapes.

Trichotomy

The property of real numbers which guarantees that for any

two real numbers a and b, exactly one of the following must
be true: a < b, a = b, or a > b.

Trivial

Vinculum

A solution or example that is ridiculously simple and of little interest.

Often, solutions or examples involving the number 0 are considered
trivial. Nonzero solutions or examples are considered nontrivial.
For example, the equation x + 5y = 0 has the trivial
solution x = 0, y = 0. Nontrivial solutions include x = 5, y =
1 and x = 2, y = 0.4.
The horizontal line drawn as part of a fraction or radical,
such as
or
.
Note: The vinculum serves the same function
as parentheses, so we do not have to write

or