Maths Terms for 11-13 Yr Olds

A branching, decision diagram in which probabilities may be assigned to each branch and used to determine the probability of any outcome of combined or compound events.

A polygon with three sides. Adjective: triangular, having the form of a triangle.

Not changing; remaining constant. Uniform acceleration, for example, would be to increase speed at a constant rate. Gravitational acceleration on Earth is uniform up to the point of terminal velocity- a falling body gains an extra 9.8 metres per second of speed every second.

A quantity that has magnitude and direction, for example displacement. Displacement (for example one metre North) combines a scalar quantity (distance displaced) with a direction to make a vector quantity.

The point at which two or more lines intersect. Every corner of a shape is a vertex. Plural: vertices.

The force exerted on an object possessing mass by the gravity of the earth, or any other gravitational body. In SI units this is measured in Newtons, as opposed to units of mass such as kilograms.

Symbol: yd. An imperial measure of length. In relation to other imperial units of length, 1 yard = 3 feet = 36 inches. 1760yd. = 1 mile. One yard is approximately 0.9 metres.

Also known as 'nought', 'nil' or 'nothing', zero (symbol 0) is the integer between one and minus one. In the place value system, it works as a place-holder. Example: 105. The zero represents that there are no 'tens' above the 100.

Any number raised to the power of zero is defined as equal to one. It is also defined that 1 divided by 0 is infinity, and anything multiplied by zero becomes zero.