MELL MathTerms

DRAFT
Spanish Translations of Some Common Mathematics
Terms used in Middle School and High School
Dr. Bill Jasper, Project Leader
(jasper@shsu.edu)
Sam Houston State University
Project Team
Dr. Bill Jasper, Dr. Sylvia Taube, Carolyn Long
Dr. John Huber, Dr. Mary Swarthout, Lolita Gerardo, Dr. Mark Klespis
June 2007
Spanish Translations of Some Common Mathematics Terms used in Middle School and High School,
created by SHSU MELL Group (jasper@shsu.edu) June 2007
1
DRAFT
Spanish Translations of Some Common Mathematics Terms used in Middle

School and High School
This product was created by a team of Sam Houston State University educators. No
claim is made that every possible vocabulary term is covered for TAKS tests.
Ninety vocabulary terms were selected for this product to support the needs of
mathematics teachers in grades 7-11. Each mathematics term is provided in English and
Spanish, along with a pronunciation guide, in order to best support those teachers of ELL
students who are not bilingual. Because a very high portion of ELL students in Texas are
Hispanic, Spanish was chosen as the second language for the glossary.
Teachers may make copies and use this product in their classrooms to augment the
learning of necessary mathematics vocabulary. Some teachers may prefer to provide the entire
glossary to their students, to pre-teach vocabulary prior to concept development. Others may
decide to have their students develop their own glossary as terms are introduced during lessons
or by content strands.
During the development of this product, we attempted to simplify the mathematics

language used to define each term, without compromising the mathematics content appropriate
for each term. After inputs from Texas teachers, we added a drawing or example for each term
to assist our English Language Learners.
We hope that this product is helpful to teachers of ELL students, and that it will enhance
the mathematics understanding of English Language Learners in Texas. Any comments or
suggestions concerning this product should be directed to Dr. Bill Jasper at jasper@shsu.edu.
2
DRAFT
Spanish Translations of Some Common Mathematics Terms used in

Middle School and High School
English term Spanish term Description/meaning Drawing/example

angle ángulo A figure formed by
two non-collinear rays
ahn’-goo-loh that have the same
endpoint. The two
rays are called the
sides of the angle.
Their common
endpoint is the vertex.
arc length longitud de un the length of a portion
arco of the circumference
of a circle
lohn’-hee-tood A
deh oon ahr-koh
arc AB
B
The portion of the circle between
A and B is the arc AB
area área the number of square

units that cover a
ah’-reh-ah figure
Area = 2 X 4 = 8 sq. units

axis of eje de simetría a line over which a
symmetry graph is the mirror
eh-heh deh image of itself. Also
see-meh-tree’-ah called a line of
symmetry.
3
DRAFT
Cartesian sistema a rectangular system
coordinate cartesiano de for graphing ordered
system coordenadas pairs with x-
coordinates and
ses-the’-mah y-coordinates
cahr-teh-see-ah’-
noh deh coh-or-
deh-na’-thas
circumference circunferencia length of the curve

that forms the circle.
seer-coon-feh-
rehn-seea
completing the completar el adding a term to an 2 2 !3" !3"

2 2
square cuadrado expression of the form x + 3x = x + 3x + $ % # $ %

&2' &2'
ax 2 + bx to produce a 2
cohm-pleh-thar binomial square. ! 3" 9
=$x+ % #
ehl & 2' 4
coo-ah-drah-tho
concrete modelos representations of Manipulatives such as
models concretos functional algebra tiles, color tiles, and
relationships with pattern blocks
mo-deh-los manipulatives or real-
con-cre-tos world examples
congruent triángulos triangles whose

triangles congruentes corresponding sides
and angles have the
tree-ahn’-goo- same measures
lohscohn-groo-
ehn-tehs ABC ! DEF
conjecture conjetura a generalization after measuring and finding

based on inductive the sum of the interior angles
cohn-heh-too’-rah reasoning of several different triangles, a
conjecture would be that the
sum is always 180 degrees.
4
DRAFT
constant rate tasa de cambio where one variable an example is the slope of a
of change constante changes at the same line, where ratio of the
proportion to another change in vertical distance to
tah’-sah deh variable the change in horizontal
cahm’-bee-oh distance is constant.
cons-tan-te
cube cubo a solid figure with six
faces, each of which
koo-boh is a square
cylinder cilindro a solid figure whose

top and bottom are
see-leen’-droh circular and parallel to
each other
dependent evento in probability, an pick a card from a deck of
event dependiente event that depends on playing cards, do not replace
some previous it, and then pick another card.
eh-ben’-to outcome The pick of the second card is
deh-pehn-dee- dependent on which card was
ehn’-te picked on the first draw
dependent Variable the output variable income = (number of hours
variable dependiente whose value is worked) times
determined by the ($ per hour)
bah-ree-ah-bleh independent variable Dependent variable is
deh-pehn-dee- (input variable) and income, which depends on
ehn’-teh the rule applied the number of hours worked.
diagram diagrama a picture or drawing

that represent the
dee-ah-grah’-mah functional relationship
between two variables
diameter diámetro a line segment with

endpoints on the
A B
dee-ah’-meh-troh circle and that
contains the center
(connects two points
on the circle) AB is the diameter of the circle
dimension dimensión in flat (plane) figures,

the length and width
5
DRAFT
dee-mehn- of the figure; in solid
seeohn’ figures, the length, 2D
width, and height of
the figure 3D
direct variación directa when the y value of a y = 4x

variation function varies at the
bah-ree-ah- same proportional y will always be 4 times
seeohn’ rate as the x value of whatever x is
dee-rehk-tah the function !
domain dominio the input values of a y = 2x
function (independent For every x value input into
variable) the function (the domain), the
doh-mee’-nee-oh y value is twice as much
!
edge arista a line segment on a

solid figure where two
ah-ris-tah faces intersect.
equation ecuación a mathematical

sentence that states y = "2x " 3
eh-koo-ah- that two expressions
seeohn’ are equal
event evento a subset of a sample rolling a die and getting a 4 is
space ! an event
eh-ben’-to
6
DRAFT
experimental probabilidad the probability of an toss a coin 100 times and you
probability experimental event determined by had 60 heads and 40 tails.
observation or The experimental probability
proh-bah-bee-lee- measurement for getting a head is 60/100 or
dahd 3/5
ehks-peh-ree-
mehn-tahl
face cara a flat surface of a
solid figure
cah-rah
function función a relation where each y = 2x " 3

(functional input is paired with
relationship) foon-seeohn’ exactly one output Each different value for x
and is based on some gives a different value for y
!
rule or description
graph gráfica the solution set of an
equation or inequality
grah’-fee-cah on a Cartesian
coordinate system
7
DRAFT
hypotenuse hipotenusa the side of a right
triangle opposite the
ee-poh-the-noo- right angle
sah
independent evento in probability, an pick a card from a deck of

event independiente event that does not playing cards, replace it , and
depend on some then pick another card. The
eh-ben’to previous outcome pick of the second card does
een-deh-pehn- not depend on which card was
dee-ehn’-te picked on the first draw
independent variable the variable whose income = (number of hours
variable independiente value is subject to worked) times
choice (input variable) ($ per hour)
bah-ree-ah’-bleh Independent variable is
een-deh-pehn- number of hours worked.
dee-ehn-teh
inequality desigualdad a mathematical

sentence that shows a y " 3x + 4
deh-see-goo-ahl- greater than, greater
dahd than or equal, less
than, or less than or
equal relationship!
between two
expressions
linear function función lineal a function that can be
represented by a y = 0.5x + 7
foon-see-ohn’ lee- straight line on a
neh-ahl graph. The function
would have a constant
rate of change !
logical razonamiento reasoning based on a geometric proof uses logical
reasoning lógico inferences of logic reasoning to take what
information is given and to use
rah-soh-nah-mee- mathematical definitions,
ehn’-to loh’-hee- axioms, and theorems to
ko determine a result.
8
DRAFT
mathematical propiedades rules or relationships the commutative property
properties matemáticas that are valid for a set states that, for any real
of numbers numbers a and b,
proh-pee-eh-dah’- a+b=b+a
dehs
mah-teh-mah’-
tee-cahs
mean media the calculated for the data set {80, 76, 89,
average of a set of 91} the mean is
meh-dee-ah numbers, found by
adding all of the (80 + 76 + 89 + 91)
numbers in the set 4
together and dividing
by the number of 336/4 = 84
numbers in the set
median mediana the middle value (or for the data set
the average of the {2, 3, 4, 6, 8, 10, 15}, the
meh-dee-ah-nah middle two values) of median is 6
a set of data arranged
in numerical order
midpoint of a punto medio de the point on a line
segment un segmento segment that is equal
distance from the two 8 cm 8 cm
poon-to meh-dee- endpoints
midpoint
oh deh oon sehg-
mehn-toh
mode moda in a data set, the for the data set
number or element {5, 8, 6, 7, 8, 1, 4, 8}, the
moh-thah that occurs most mode is 8
often.
model modelo a representation of a algebra tiles are used to
mathematical concept represent algebraic
moh-deh’-loh (such as physical, relationships.
algebraic, or
geometric
representations) represents a variable x and
represents a value of 1
monomial monomio a term that is a 3
number, a variable, or x
moh-noh’-mee-oh the product of a 3y2
number and one or 4m2n
more variables
9
DRAFT
net desarrollo a diagram of a two-
dimensional shape
des-ah-ro-yo that can be folded to
form a three
dimensional shape
ordered pair par ordenado a pair of numbers in (3,6) is a different ordered

which the order they pair than (6,3)
pahr are written is
ohr-deh-nah-tho important.
parabola parábola the set of points in a
plane equidistant from
pah-rah’-boh-lah a point called the
focus and a line called
the directrix.
parallel lines líneas paralelas two lines in a plane

that do not intersect
lee’-neh-ahs
pah-rah-leh-lahs
pattern patrón a sequence of 3+5=8
observations that 7 + 13 = 20
pah-trohn’ follows a trend 21 + 3 = 24
an odd whole number plus

another odd whole number
equals an even number.
perimeter perímetro the sum of the lengths
of the sides of a
peh-ree’-meh-troh polygon E
11 cm
5 cm
D 9 cm F
9cm + 5cm + 11cm

= 25cm
10
DRAFT
perpendicular líneas two lines in a plane
lines perpendiculares that form right angles
at their point of
lee’-neh-ahs intersection
pehr-pehn-dee-
coo-lahr-ehs
pi pi a number that
expresses the ratio of
a circle’s
circumference and its
diameter.
polynomial expresiones a monomial or the 2x
expressions polinómicas sum or difference of
monomials 4x2 – 3x + 2
ex-pre-sion-ehs
poh-lee-noh’-
mee-cas
possible resultado posible one of the elements or if you pull a card from a deck
outcome events in the sample of 52 cards, an ace of spades
reh-sool-tah’-tho space. is a possible outcome.
poh-see’-bleh
probability probabilidad a measure of the the probability of drawing a
chance or likelihood of heart out of a standard deck
proh-bah-bee-lee- an event to occur. of playing cards is 13/52 or 1/4
dahd’
problem estrategias para techniques or strategies may include make a
solving resolución de approaches for list, look for a pattern, make a
strategies problemas solving a problem drawing, solve an easier
problem, etc.
ehs-trah-the-he-
ahs pah-rah
re-soh-loo-
seeohn deh proh-
bleh-mahs
properties of propiedades de la the reflective, see each definition for specific
equality igualdad symmetric, transitive, examples of each equality
and substitution property
proh-pee-eh’- properties
dahd-ehs deh la
ee-goo-ahl-dahd
proportion proporción an equation that 8 14
=
states that two ratios 11 x
proh-pohr- are equal
seeohn’
created by SHSU MELL Group (jasper@shsu.edu) June 2007 !
11
DRAFT
Pythagorean teorema de a formula that shows
theorem Pitágoras the relationship
A
among the lengths of
teh-oh-reh-mah the three sides of a c
a
deh pee-tah’-goh- right triangle:
rahs
a2 + b2 = c2, where c b
C B
is the hypotenuse,
and a and b are the a2 + b2 = c 2
legs of the triangle.
5 2 + 12 2 = 132
25 + 144 = 169
169 = 169
quadratic función a function of the form
function cuadrática f (x) = ax 2 + bx + c , f (x) = 2x 2 " 4 x + 3
where a, b, and c are
foon-see-ohn’ !
real numbers and a ≠
coo-ah-drah’-tee- 0. Quadratic
kah ! functions must have !
an x2 term
radius radio a line segment from
the center of a circle
rah’-dee-oh to a point on the
circumference (half of D C
the diameter)
CD is the radius of the circle
range rango/ recorrido/ the output values if the domain (input values of
contradominio (y-coordinates on a x) are 1 and 2 for the function
graph) of a function y = 3 x, then the range
(values of y) are 3 and 6.
ran-go / re-co-
ree-do / con-trah-
do-mee-nee-oh
ratio razón a comparison of two

or more quantities. 200miles
rah-sohn’ 9gallons
!
12
DRAFT
rectangle rectángulo a quadrilateral with
four right angles
rehk-tahn’-goo-
loh
reflection reflexión a congruence
transformation that
reh-flek-seeohn’ reflects (flips) a figure
over a line called the
line of reflection.
reflective propiedad for all real numbers a,

property reflexiva a=a
4=4
proh-pee-eh’-
dahd
reh-fleh-see-bah !
regular polígono regular a polygon that is both
polygon equilateral (sides
poh-lee’-goh-noh same length) and
reh-goo-lar equiangular (angles
same measure)
relation relación a set of ordered pairs,
which describe a A = {(1,2), (2, 4), (3,6)}
reh-lah-seeohn’ relationship between
two variables. For a Or
relation, it is
acceptable for each B = {(1,2), (1,4), (1,8)}
input value to be
paired with more than
one output
right angle ángulo recto an angle with a
measure of 90
ahn’-goo-loh degrees
rehk-toh
right triangle triángulo a triangle that
rectángulo contains one 90-
degree (right) angle
tree-an’-goo-loh
rehk-tan-gu-lo
13
DRAFT
rotation rotación a congruence
transformation that
roh-tah-seeohn’ rotates (turns) a figure
about a fixed point
sales tax impuesto an amount added to a sales tax of 8.5% on a $50

the cost of items, purchase would be $4.25
eem-poo-ehs’-toh calculated as a (50 x 0.085)
percentage of the cost
sample space espacio muestral the set of all possible the sample space for tossing a
outcomes for an 6-face die is
ehs-pah’-seeoh experiment. S = {1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6}
moo-ehs-trahl’
scatter plot gráfica de a graph in which the .
dispersión data are shown as . .
points in a coordinate Ht ..
grah’-fee-cah deh plane. Scatter plots . .
dees-pehr- show the relationship
seeohn’ between two Wt
variables.
sector sector a region of a circle
bounded by two radii
sehk-tohr and their intercepted
arc
similar figures figuras similares figures that have the

same shape but may
fee-goo-rahs have different sizes.
see-mee-lah-rehs The lengths of
corresponding sides
of similar figures are
proportional
slope of a line pendiente de una the change in vertical for the equation
línea distance divided by y = 3x + 5 ,
the change in the slope of the line is 3,
pehn-dee-ehn’- horizontal distance which shows a vertical
teh oo-nah lee- change of 3 units for every 1
nehah ! unit of horizontal change
14
DRAFT
slope-intercept forma pendiente- y = mx + b , where m is for the equation
form of a intercepción de the slope and b is the y = "2x " 3 , the slope is -2
linear function una función lineal y-intercept and the
y-intercept is -3
!
fohr-mah pehn-
dee-ehn-te !
een-tehr-sehp-
see-ohn deh
oonah func-seeon
lee-nehal
sphere esfera the set of points in
space that are an
ehs-feh’-rah equal distance from
the center of the
figure.
square cuadrado a rectangle whose
four sides are
koo-ah’-drah-do congruent
substitution propiedad de for all real numbers a if y = 6 , then 6 may be

property sustitución and b, if a = b, then a substituted for y in the
may replace b or b expression 2y + 3, giving a
proh-pee-eh’- may replace a in any value of 15 for the expression
dahd statement !
deh soos-tee-too-
seeohn’ !
surface area área total for a solid figure, the
sum of the areas of all
ah’-reh-a the faces or surfaces
toh-tal than enclose the solid
37mm
37mm
37mm
surface area is sum of the areas

of the 6 squares that make up
the sides of the cube
The surface area of this cube

is 6 X 372 = 8214 mm2
15
DRAFT
symmetric propiedad for all real numbers a
property simétrica and b, if a = b, then b If 2x = 6. Then 6 = 2x
=a
proh-pee-eh’-
dahd
! !
see-meh’-tree-
cah
system of sistema de two or more linear y = 2x + 3
linear ecuaciones equations that are 2y = "2x +12
equations lineales considered or plotted
Solving :
together
sees-the’-ma deh x =1
eh-koo-ah- y=5
seeohn’-ehs lee-
neh-ah’-lehs
table tabla a display of x 2 4 6
mathematical data,! y 5 9 13
tah-blah usually in a vertical or
horizontal manner
tessellation teselación an arrangement of
closed figures that
the-she-la-seeon’ completely cover a
surface, without any
gaps or overlaps
theoretical probabilidad the probability of an when a coin is tossed, the

probability teórica event determined by theoretical probability of
the ratio of the getting a head is ½
proh-bah-bee-lee- number of favorable
dahd’ outcomes to the
teh-oh’-ree-cah number of possible
outcomes in the
sample space
16
DRAFT
transitive propiedad for all real numbers a, if a = 2 and
property transitiva b, and c, if a = b and 2 = c, then a = c
b = c, then a = c
proh-pee-eh-dahd
trahn-see-tee’-ba
translation traslación a congruence
transformation that
tras-lah-seeohn’ slides a figure in the
plane without
changing its
orientation or size
transversal transversal a line that intersects
two or more different
trahns-behr-sahl lines in a plane.
When the lines are
parallel, certain angle
measurements are
equal
trigonometric razones relationships between
A
ratios trigonométricas the sides of right
triangles. Most 13
commonly used are 5
rah’-so-nes tree- the sine, cosine, and B
goh-no-meh’-tree- tangent C 12
cas
The sine of angle A is 12/13
variable variable a symbol (usually a in the expression,

letter) used to 4 n + 2, the “n” is a variable
bah-ree-ah-bleh represent an unknown
number in a given set
of numbers
17
DRAFT
vertex vértice the point on the axis
of symmetry of a
parabola equidistant
behr’-tee-ceh from the focus and the
directrix.
volume volumen the measured size

(how much it will hold)
boh-loo-mehn of a solid figure;
measurement given in
“cubic” units
x-intercept intercepción x the value(s) of x

where a graph
een-tehr-cehp- intersects the x-axis.
seeohn’ eh-kees
y-intercept Intercepción y the value of y where a

graph intersects the y-
een-tehr-cehp- axis.
seeohn’ yah

MELL MathTerms

Uploaded by

Document Information

Original Title

Copyright

Available Formats

Share this document

Share or Embed Document

Sharing Options

Did you find this document useful?

Is this content inappropriate?

Copyright:

Available Formats

MELL MathTerms

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

DRAFT

Spanish Translations of Some Common Mathematics

Terms used in Middle School and High School

Dr. Bill Jasper, Project Leader

Sam Houston State University

Dr. Bill Jasper, Dr. Sylvia Taube, Carolyn Long

Spanish Translations of Some Common Mathematics Terms used in Middle

During the development of this product, we attempted to simplify the mathematics

Spanish Translations of Some Common Mathematics Terms used in

English term Spanish term Description/meaning Drawing/example

area área the number of square

Area = 2 X 4 = 8 sq. units

circumference circunferencia length of the curve

completing the completar el adding a term to an 2 2 !3" !3"

square cuadrado expression of the form x + 3x = x + 3x + $ % # $ %

congruent triángulos triangles whose

conjecture conjetura a generalization after measuring and finding

cylinder cilindro a solid figure whose

diagram diagrama a picture or drawing

diameter diámetro a line segment with

dimension dimensión in flat (plane) figures,

direct variación directa when the y value of a y = 4x

edge arista a line segment on a

equation ecuación a mathematical

function función a relation where each y = 2x " 3

independent evento in probability, an pick a card from a deck of

inequality desigualdad a mathematical

ordered pair par ordenado a pair of numbers in (3,6) is a different ordered

parallel lines líneas paralelas two lines in a plane

an odd whole number plus

9cm + 5cm + 11cm

CD is the radius of the circle

ratio razón a comparison of two

reflective propiedad for all real numbers a,

sales tax impuesto an amount added to a sales tax of 8.5% on a $50

similar figures figuras similares figures that have the

substitution propiedad de for all real numbers a if y = 6 , then 6 may be

surface area is sum of the areas

The surface area of this cube

theoretical probabilidad the probability of an when a coin is tossed, the

variable variable a symbol (usually a in the expression,

volume volumen the measured size

x-intercept intercepción x the value(s) of x

y-intercept Intercepción y the value of y where a

You might also like