Questions tagged [terminology]
How words are used in mathematics or mathematics education
67
questions
9
votes
5answers
2k views
Is there a name for paths that follow gridlines?
I'm writing up an activity where students are looking at pathlengths that follow along gridlines.
Is there a word or phrase that is commonly used to describe those paths, but doesn't include ...
13
votes
7answers
10k views
Why don’t American school textbooks recognize negative numbers as whole numbers?
Looking up for definition for whole numbers on Google yields a result which mentions:
The whole numbers are also called the positive integers (or the nonnegative integers, if zero is included).
I ...
17
votes
4answers
3k views
Does this property of subtraction and division have a name?
Addition and multiplication are commutative. Denoting $\circ$ as either such operation, we have
$$x \circ y = z \Leftrightarrow y \circ x = z.$$
Subtraction and division have a similar property, where
...
2
votes
1answer
151 views
In single variable calculus, do you distinguish between critical and singular points?
In some texts, a critical point is when the derivative exists and is zero, and a singular point is when the derivative does not exist. So I suppose, at $x=0$, $|x|$ would have a singular point while $...
1
vote
1answer
199 views
What to call a symbol that denotes an “undisclosed” given number? [closed]
Students like to categorize notations to pin down their understanding of exactly what these notations stand for. Thus, given the expressions $f(x_{0})=f(x)|_{x\leftarrow x_{0}}$, $x=x_0+h$, or $lim_{x\...
11
votes
2answers
153 views
Confusing verbal descriptions of function transformations
While teaching Function Transformations, I found the verbal descriptions of stretch and squeeze really confusing.
So for $y = f(x)$,
$y = 2f(x)$ is said to stretch $f(x)$ vertically by a factor of $...
32
votes
6answers
2k views
Allowing nonstandard mathematical language and/or notation
How important is enforcing standard mathematical language and/or notation?
Today, I was questioned by a writing instructor as to how vital it is to correct students when they explain something using ...
8
votes
1answer
243 views
Terminology for parts of limit notation
When we talk about: $$\lim_{x\to{c}}f(x)=L$$ Is there a formal name for the number "$c$"?
I know of course that it means "$L$ is the limit of $f(x)$ as $x$ approaches $c$". It just would be nice to be ...
3
votes
3answers
598 views
The term “unique” for functions and operations
This is long so...
TLDR: Proposing the math community steer away from the misleading term unique, with respect to functions and algebraic operations. Instead, use unambiguous. Why not? Analysis below....
16
votes
8answers
3k views
Should high school teachers say “real numbers” before teaching complex numbers?
Before complex numbers are introduced in senior high school courses, should we emphasise that solutions (e.g. to quadratic equations) are real solutions?
If we do, then when non-real numbers finally ...
3
votes
3answers
155 views
What is the name of the form of the line equation $y = m(x-x0)+y0$
I have been looking everywhere for the name of this form of equation of a line $y=m(x-x_0)+y_0$. It's not quite point-slope. It's the same form you would write in the linear approximation of a ...
6
votes
2answers
196 views
The word “numeral”, is it being taught and does the word exist for it in your language?
I am a mathematics educator from Lithuania and I have recently realized that there is no separate word in our language for the word "numeral". To be more precise there is no term to describe the ...
8
votes
1answer
618 views
An alternative to “two column” geometry proofs
I'm a high school teacher in New York State (US), starting in on my first year of teaching Geometry. One of the things that really intrigues me is that the Regents exam (the state-mandated final exam)...
0
votes
6answers
617 views
Is there a more telling name for “Calculus 2”?
I see a lot of places where "Calculus 1" is referred to as "Introduction to Calculus", or "Single-variable Calculus." "Calculus 3" is referred to as "Multiple-variable calculus."
Is there an ...
1
vote
2answers
189 views
Interpretation of how to define “bigger” and “smaller” real numbers
This is a variant on the question small real numbers.
I have a disagreement with someone about the meaning of "bigger" real numbers.
Say we have the real number $-1.$ Is $0$ "bigger" or "smaller" ...
2
votes
1answer
320 views
What are “PreK‐12th‐grade students”?
I am reading the paper Effects of game‐based learning on students' mathematics achievement: A meta‐analysis and can't find a definition for the term "PreK‐12th‐grade students".
While I know that "K-...
7
votes
1answer
192 views
Are there textbooks that cover most etymological aspects of mathematics?
In most of the science textbooks I read, I observed that most of them contain the terms, definitions and etymology too.
But nowadays, the mathematics textbooks are becoming more formal and contain ...
3
votes
3answers
96 views
How to verbalize the correct statement of mixed units?
I want help phrasing the instructions in a math question. The issue is the correct way to express mixed units.
For example, if an answer is “25 inches,” I don’t want to accept “25 inches” or “1 foot ...
10
votes
10answers
2k views
Vocabulary for giving just numbers, not a full answer
I am a math teacher from China, teaching a course in English.
Some students of mine are really good at finding answers for math problems designed in a quiz, however they are unable to write down ...
4
votes
1answer
209 views
The terminology for an excluded solution
I am not a native math teacher. I have a question related to a terminology when solving an algebraic equation.
Assume that we are solving some complicated equation like $x^{3}-\sqrt{1-x^{2}}-\frac{1}{...
8
votes
3answers
449 views
“Amplitude” of Tan and Cot functions
The amplitude of a sinusoid is the distance from its axis to a high
point or a low point.
When we read this, it follows that Tan and Cot don't have an amplitude. Nor do SEC or CSC. Now, I'm in an ...
8
votes
2answers
147 views
Math Lessons with Two Parts and a Combination
This is fairly open ended, so I understand if people consider this to be off-topic.
I'm interested in creating math lessons where two groups each learn how to use a different simple math skill, and ...
7
votes
4answers
465 views
In teaching mathematics, should one always follow some international standards such as ISO 80000-2?
ISO 80000-2:2009 is a standard describing mathematical signs and symbols developed by the International Organization for Standardization (ISO). In teaching mathematics, should one always follow this ...
9
votes
4answers
1k views
Is the constant term a coefficient?
I'm a baby boomer who was taught that the constant term of a polynomial is a coefficient, being the constant factor for the x^0 term.
That's not what's taught today.
Current text books are vague on ...
6
votes
8answers
2k views
What is an intercept?
I have always taught my students that the $y$-intercept of a line is the $y$-coordinate of the point of intersection of a line with the $y$-axis, that is, for the line given by the equation $y=mx+y_0$,...
5
votes
4answers
211 views
What is the value in creating distinguishing terminology between the $x$, $y$, and $(x, y)$ values of a possible point of extremum?
I've been out of a math program for about four years now. My wife is starting a CS degree, and finished her first calculus course last semester.
I tutored calculus throughout my entire undergrad, ...
0
votes
0answers
112 views
What is the best term for “probability measure” in an undergrad introduction to probability course?
The function $P$ that takes an event $A$ as input and returns the probability $P(A)$ as output is called a "probability measure" when we are developing probability using measure theory.
I have also ...
6
votes
4answers
377 views
Should I describe the function $x \mapsto f(x_0) + f'(x_0)(x - x_0)$ as “linear” in a freshman calculus class?
One of the most important ideas of calculus is
$$
f(x) \approx f(x_0) + f'(x_0)(x - x_0).
$$
The approximation is good when $x$ is close to $x_0$. This approximation is very useful because the ...
5
votes
2answers
200 views
How to explain NP-hardness and NP-completeness to students
Computer science is becoming more and more important for mathematicians nowadays. Terms like big data, algorithm, artificial intelligence and others are frequently on the news. Many mathematical ...
5
votes
2answers
383 views
How to Teach Middle School Students to Read Square Roots?
This exact quote from my standard American Algebra 1 textbook states when first introducing rational square roots:
$\sqrt{49} = 7$ is read "The positive square root of $49$ equals $7$."
$-...
-2
votes
1answer
97 views
When a geometrical figure a special case of another [closed]
Squares are special types of rectangles.
Are circles special types of ellipses/ovals?
Are cones special types of pyramids? I guess the answer is no because of the 2D basis: circles are not special ...
12
votes
5answers
444 views
What is a recommend way to describe a negative number with large absolute value?
Sometimes when we discuss limits verbally, we may say that a variable $x$ being "very small" (assuming that $x$ is a real number). But this could mean any one of the following:
The number $x$ is a ...
3
votes
2answers
141 views
Should Measurement of Angles Using Degree (and perhaps Common Logarithm as well) be Avoided in Pre-Calculus?
People use degrees and radians to measure angles and though degree measurement is acceptable and is widely used in everyday life, it is not in the International System of Units and mathematically it ...
5
votes
4answers
602 views
Why isn't the term *inequation* widely used in English?
Just as we distinguish between an equation and an identity (or equality), why don't we distinguish between an inequation and an inequality? We solve an inequation and we prove an inequality. In French ...
4
votes
2answers
375 views
How to explain Chinese remainder theorem?
I want to explain Chinese remainder theorem to master level computer science students. There are two versions of CRT one is number theoretic and second requires the definition of ideals, groups etc. ...
6
votes
3answers
266 views
Terminology: degree of coefficient?
It's clear that a polynomial has a "degree". For instance our $$x^2 + 2x + 3$$ is a of degree two.
Can we apply the "degree" terminology to the coefficients? Here we have the coefficient tuple $[1\ 2\...
17
votes
3answers
715 views
Why are $m$ and $b$ used in the slope-intercept equation of a line?
The slope-intercept form of the equation of a line is often presented in textbooks (in the US) as
$$y = mx + b\,,$$
where $m$ is the slope of the line and $b$ is the $y$-intercept. How did $m$ and $...
2
votes
2answers
1k views
Definition of root of equation/expression
Related: Where does the word “roots” come from when talking about zeros
A student recently wrote:
The positive root of 3 sin x = x is near 2.
I am questioning the student's use of of the word ...
10
votes
1answer
151 views
Is there a base-independent term for numbers written out with decimal/binary points?
How can I refer to a number written out in its decimal expansion (e.g., 1.25) or binary expansion (e.g., 1.01) to distinguish it from a number expressed as a fraction? I am teaching students to use ...
8
votes
1answer
1k views
What is the term for the marks used to show congruence in geometric figures?
When looking at a given picture to be used in a geometric proof, often times single, double, or triple "slashes" mark off equal line segments or arcs. What is the correct term for these? I've seen ...
10
votes
2answers
1k views
What is the difference between “numeracy” and “number sense”?
Is there a difference between numeracy and number sense, or are they synonymous? In my language they are often both translated to the same word (tallforståelse).
I'm thinking that perhaps numeracy ...
4
votes
3answers
157 views
Proper ordering of phrase “multiplied by”
Which of these is the correct ordering:
a polynomial multiplied by a monomial
a monomial multiplied by a polynomial
if what I want to achieve is something like 3x(x+5)?
Here are my initial ...
3
votes
2answers
179 views
“A” or “The” Cartesian plane?
Which is correct terminology: "A Cartesian plane" or "The Cartesian plane"? (As in the directions for a section of homework being, "Plot a point on ______ Cartesian plane." In that context, I feel ...
4
votes
3answers
251 views
“The following are equivalent”
What do you say to the following way of teaching "if" and "the following are equivalent"? Has somebody ever taught it like this?
An implication A -> B can be viewed as asserting that B is at least as ...
7
votes
3answers
562 views
A good antonym for reducing/simplifying equivalent fractions
I am looking for a good antonym for reducing/simplifying equivalent fractions: 'reduce' and 'simplify' both make sense to me when dividing, but I'm struggling to name what it is we do when we multiply ...
3
votes
1answer
308 views
How to explain “fractional terms”?
as I can see there are mainly two ways to introduce fractional terms. Two examples to demonstrate the two variants:
$\frac{a^2+3}{a}; \frac{3}{2c}$
$T(a) = \frac{a^2+3}{a}; T(c) = \frac{3}{2c}$.
In ...
5
votes
2answers
200 views
Name to use for codomain/range/target
There are many questions about how best to teach functions, for example why don't we teach codomains in HS and should we teach them at all. On Math.SX there are questions about the "right" name for ...
12
votes
3answers
994 views
Mathematical education slang
Amir Asghari recently asked a question about mathematical slang. He was "looking for "non-mathematical" terms or phrases that are used to refer to mathematical objects (of any kind) mainly for ...
22
votes
16answers
2k views
Examples of Mathematical Slang
Unless you have taught highschool algebra in Iran, you could not make sense of the phrase: Elephant and Teacup Identity! This is what teachers use to refer to the following identities:
$ (a+b)(a^2-...
7
votes
2answers
185 views
Alternative terms for 'mathematical understanding'
When I talk to other research mathematicians, there is pretty uniform agreement that we want our (university) students to understand the maths we teach them rather than just memorise processes. As far ...
