addition a mathematical operation in which the sum of two numbers or quantities is calculated. Usually indicated by the symbol + algorithm or algorism a recursive procedure whereby an infinite sequence of terms can be generated angle the extent to which one such line or plane diverges from another, measured in degrees or radians arc a section of a curve, graph, or geometric figure area the two-dimensional extent of the surface of a solid, or of some part thereof, esp one bounded by a closed curve average the result obtained by adding the numbers or quantities in a set and dividing the total by the number of members in the set axis one of two or three reference lines used in coordinate geometry to locate a point in a plane or in space base the number of distinct single-digit numbers in a counting system, and so the number represented as 10 in a place-value system binary of, relating to, or expressed in binary notation or binary code binomial a mathematical expression consisting of two terms, such as 3x + 2y cardinal number a number denoting quantity but not order in a set Cartesian coordinates a system of representing points in space in terms of their distance from a given origin measured along a set of mutually perpendicular axes. Written (x,y,z) with reference to three axes chord a straight line connecting two points on a curve or curved surface circle a closed plane curve every point of which is equidistant from a given fixed point, the centre. Equation: (x –h)2 + (y –k)2 = r2 where r is the radius and (h, k) are the coordinates of the centre; area πr2; circumference: 2πr circumference the boundary of a specific area or geometric figure, esp of a circle closed set a set that includes all the values obtained by application of a given operation to its members coefficient a numerical or constant factor in an algebraic term common denominator an integer exactly divisible by each denominator of a group of fractions: , , and have a common denominator of 12 common factor a number or quantity that is a factor of each member of a group of numbers or quantities complex number any number of the form a + ib, where a and b are real numbers and i = √–1 concentric having a common centre