Cambridge IGCSE®

Core and Extended

Mathematics Glossary

Term Translation Definition

= = means is equal to. For example, 3 1 4 5 7
≠ ≠ means is not equal to. For example, 3 1 4 ≠ 8
> > means is greater than. For example, 8 > 3 1 4
< < means is less than. For example, 3 1 4 < 8
≥ ≥ means is greater than or equal to. For example, x ≥ 5 means x is any
number greater than or equal to 5
≤ ≤ means is less than or equal to. For example, x ≤ 5 means x is any
number less than or equal to 5
∈ ∈means belongs to.
e ∈S means the element e belongs to the set S
∉ ∉means does NOT belong to.
e ∉S means the element e does not belong to the set S
⊆ ⊆ means is a subset of.
So X ⊆ Y means X is a subset of Y
⊆⁄ ⊆⁄ means is NOT a subset of.
So X ⊆⁄ Y means X is not a subset of Y
⊂ ⊂ means is a proper subset of.
So X ⊂ Y means X is a proper subset of Y
⊄ ⊄ means is NOT a proper subset of.
So X ⊄ Y means X is not a proper subset of Y
A∩B A ∩ B means all the elements that belong to BOTH set A and set B
A ∩ B denotes the elements that are in the intersection of A and B
on a Venn diagram
A∪B The union of sets A and B, A ∪ B, is all the elements that belong to
EITHER set A OR set B OR both.
ξ The universal set, ξ, for any particular problem is the set which
contains all the possible elements for that problem.
∅ ∅ is the symbol for the empty set. The empty set has no elements
in it.
acute angle An acute angle lies between 0° and 90°.
acute angled triangle In an acute angled triangle, all three angles are less than 90°.
adjacent In a right-angled triangle the adjacent is the side which is next to the
angle.
A

θ
B adjacent C

Cambridge IGCSE Core and Extended Mathematics 3rd edition Teacher’s Resource © Hodder & Stoughton Ltd 2013 1