SAAT key terms

Any whole number, positive, negative, or zero, with no fractional or decimal part, such as -7, 0, or 42. Integers never include values like 2.5 or one-third.

A number expressible as a fraction of two integers with a nonzero denominator. Its decimal form either ends or repeats forever in a fixed pattern.

The number you multiply a given nonzero number by to get 1. For a fraction, swap numerator and denominator; for 4, the reciprocal is one quarter.

The agreed sequence for evaluating expressions: grouping symbols first, then exponents, then multiplication and division left to right, then addition and subtraction left to right.

The distance of a number from zero on the number line, always nonnegative. Both 6 and -6 have absolute value 6.

The largest positive integer that divides two or more given integers evenly. For 18 and 24 it is 6, used when simplifying fractions.

The smallest positive integer that is a multiple of two or more given integers. For 4 and 6 it is 12, the usual common denominator.

An integer greater than 1 whose only positive divisors are 1 and itself, such as 2, 3, 5, 7, and 11. The number 1 is not prime.

A comparison of two quantities by division, often written with a colon or as a fraction. A ratio of 3 to 5 means the first is three-fifths of the second.

An equation stating that two ratios are equal, such as 3/4 = x/12. Cross-multiplication solves it: multiply each numerator by the opposite denominator.

The difference between a new and original value, divided by the original value, then written as a percent. A rise from 40 to 50 is a 25 percent increase.

A way of writing very large or small numbers as a number between 1 and 10 multiplied by a power of 10, such as 4.2 times 10 to the sixth.

A raised number showing how many times the base is used as a factor. In 5 cubed, 3 is the exponent and the value is 125.

A letter or symbol standing for an unknown or changing quantity in an expression or equation, like x in 2x + 5.

A mathematical phrase combining numbers, variables, and operations without an equals sign, such as 3x - 7. It can be simplified or evaluated but not solved.

An equation whose graph is a straight line and whose variable appears only to the first power, such as y = 3x - 2.

The steepness of a line, measured as vertical change divided by horizontal change between two points. A horizontal line has slope 0.

The point where a graph crosses the vertical axis, occurring where x equals 0. In y = mx + b, the value b is the y-intercept.

A rule pairing each input with exactly one output. One input cannot produce two different outputs, though two inputs may share an output.

The domain is the full set of allowed inputs of a function; the range is the set of all outputs it actually produces.

An equation containing a variable squared, generally written ax squared plus bx plus c equals 0 with a nonzero. It can have two, one, or no real solutions.

Rewriting an expression as a product of simpler expressions. For example, x squared minus 9 becomes (x - 3)(x + 3), which helps solve equations.

A statement comparing quantities that are not necessarily equal, using symbols like less than, greater than, or at most. Its solution is usually a range of values.

The total distance around the outside of a two-dimensional figure, found by adding the lengths of all its sides.

The amount of flat surface a two-dimensional figure covers, measured in square units such as square centimeters.

The amount of three-dimensional space a solid occupies, measured in cubic units. A rectangular box's volume is length times width times height.

The total area of all outer faces of a three-dimensional solid, measured in square units. For a cube it is six times one face's area.

The distance around a circle, equal to pi times the diameter, or twice pi times the radius.

In a right triangle, the square of the hypotenuse equals the sum of the squares of the other two sides, written a squared plus b squared equals c squared.

The longest side of a right triangle, lying opposite the right angle. It is the side named c in the Pythagorean theorem.

Figures with the same shape but possibly different size, having equal corresponding angles and proportional corresponding side lengths.

The arithmetic average, found by adding all values and dividing by how many there are. It is pulled toward unusually high or low values.

The middle value when data are arranged in order; with an even count, it is the average of the two middle values. It resists extreme values.

The difference between the largest and smallest values in a data set. It measures spread using only two data points.

A measure of how far data values typically lie from the mean. A small value means values cluster tightly; a large one means they spread widely.

A number from 0 to 1 describing how likely an event is, computed for equally likely outcomes as favorable outcomes divided by total outcomes.

Two events where the occurrence of one does not change the probability of the other. Their combined probability is the product of their separate probabilities.

The central point a passage conveys about its topic, broad enough to cover the whole text rather than one supporting detail.

A conclusion a reader draws by combining stated information with reasoning, rather than reading it directly in the text.

Specific evidence, examples, or facts in a passage that explain, illustrate, or strengthen the main idea.

A sentence, usually near a passage's start, stating the central claim the writer will develop and support.

A word or phrase such as however, therefore, or in addition that signals the logical relationship between ideas and guides the reader.

A word or phrase that describes or limits another element in a sentence. It should sit close to the word it modifies to avoid confusion.

The rule that a verb must match its subject in number: singular subjects take singular verbs, plural subjects take plural verbs.