Tasmania TCE Everyday Adult Standard - Mathematics key terms

The value a digit has because of its position in a number; in 4,072 the 4 means four thousands and the 7 means seven tens.

Replacing a number with a nearby simpler value that has fewer significant digits, chosen by looking at the next digit; useful for quick estimates and sensible answers.

Finding a rough answer that is close enough for a purpose, usually by rounding numbers or using friendly values before calculating.

A way of writing part of a whole as one number divided by another, such as three-quarters meaning three of four equal parts.

A number written using place value after a decimal point, where each place is worth a tenth of the place to its left, such as 2.75.

A fraction expressed out of one hundred, so 25% means 25 parts in every 100, or one quarter of the whole amount.

A comparison of two or more quantities showing how many times one contains another, written such as 3:1 and read as three to one.

A comparison of two quantities measured in different units, such as kilometres per hour or dollars per kilogram.

A statement that two ratios or fractions are equal, allowing an unknown quantity to be found by scaling both parts the same way.

A rate expressed for a single unit of one quantity, such as cost per kilogram or speed per hour, found by dividing the two amounts.

A number less than zero, used for temperatures below freezing, bank balances below zero and positions in the opposite direction.

A whole number with no fractional part, including zero and negative whole numbers such as -7, 0 and 12.

A straight line marked with numbers in order at equal spacings, used to compare values and show addition, subtraction and negatives.

The agreed sequence for calculating an expression: work out brackets first, then powers, then multiplication and division, then addition and subtraction.

The total distance around the outside edge of a flat shape, found by adding the lengths of all its sides.

The amount of flat surface a shape covers, measured in square units such as square metres or square centimetres.

The amount of space a solid object takes up, measured in cubic units such as cubic metres or litres for capacity.

How much a container can hold, usually measured in litres or millilitres, which is closely related to volume for liquids.

The distance all the way around a circle, calculated from the diameter or radius using the value pi.

The distance from the centre of a circle to its edge; it is exactly half the diameter of the same circle.

The straight-line distance across a circle passing through its centre, equal to twice the radius.

Changing a measurement into different units without changing the actual amount, such as metres to centimetres or minutes to hours.

The relationship between a distance on a map or plan and the real distance it represents, often written as a ratio.

A region that keeps one standard clock time, so travelling between zones means adding or subtracting a set number of hours.

A table listing times for services or events, used to work out waiting times, travel durations and arrival times.

The length of time between a starting moment and an ending moment, found by subtracting the start time from the finish time.

The amount of turn between two lines that meet at a point, measured in degrees, where a full turn is 360 degrees.

A flat shape with three straight sides and three angles, whose interior angles always add to 180 degrees.

A property of a shape that looks unchanged when folded along a line or turned part way around a centre point.

A direction measured clockwise in degrees from north, used to describe the way from one place to another.

The average found by adding all the values and dividing by how many values there are; it is affected by unusually high or low values.

The middle value when all data are placed in order; with an even count, it is the mean of the two middle values.

A simple measure of spread found by subtracting the smallest value in a data set from the largest value.

A visual display of data such as a column graph, line graph or pie chart, chosen to suit the type of data being shown.

A number from 0 to 1 describing how likely an event is, where 0 means impossible and 1 means certain.

A smaller group selected from a larger population and used to draw conclusions about the whole group.

Interest calculated only on the original amount borrowed or saved, using the principal, the annual rate and the number of years.

Interest calculated on both the original amount and on interest already added, so the balance grows faster than with simple interest.

The original sum of money borrowed or invested, before any interest or fees are added to it.

A plan listing expected income and planned spending over a period, used to check that outgoings do not exceed money coming in.

A reduction from the usual price, often given as a percentage, so the amount saved is that percentage of the original price.

A broad tax added to the price of most goods and services in Australia, currently set at ten per cent.

Judging whether a calculated answer makes sense in the real situation, checking size, units and whether it fits the question.