Algebra 2 Glossary

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This is the Algebra 2 glossary. Here are all the terms you need to know to combat the mathematical world.

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z


A

Axes: The two lines on a coordinate plane that run perpendicular to each other that act as a guidance to finding a point or identifying functions


B


C

Constant: A number with no variable that never changes
Coordinate: A location on a plane described by the x location and y location of the axes


D

Degree: The sum of the exponential values of a term. When referring to polynomials, it is the greatest sum of the exponential values of all the terms.
Distribution: The process of multiplying a term or collection of terms by a group of terms.


E

Equation: A relation of two equivalent expressions
Expanding: The process of bringing a form of something into either its most basic form, standard form, or form that is easily understood or visually better
Expression: Constants, coefficients, and variables bound together by mathematical operations with no comparison or relation


F

Factoring: The process of bringing a polynomial into a form where the roots or solutions are easily visible
FOIL: An acronym used to multiply a binomial by a binomial. You multiply the firsts, the outers, the inners, and the lasts.
Function: An equation of two variables where one defines the other after a system of operations. In a function, the independent value cannot have more than one dependent value.


G


H


I

Inequality: A relation of two expressions in terms of greater than, less than, greater than or equal to, or less than or equal to.
Intersection: The point where two lines converge. Famous intersections are the Origin, intercepts of a function, and the solution to a system of equations.
Inverse: The opposite of something as to yield 0 or 1. When pertaining to matrices, the inverse yields the identity matrix.


J


K


L

Leading Coefficient: The coefficient of the term of highest degree in a polynomial.
Linear Function: A function with a maximum polynomial degree of one. A linear function has a constant rate and looks like a straight line when graphed.
Long Division: The process of dividing that uses a system of dividing smaller parts cumulatively.


M

Matrix: A rectangular array of information
Monomial: A term


N


O

Origin: The point where the axes intersect. The coordinate for this point is (0,0)


P

Polynomial: A collection of terms bound by addition or subtraction so that there are no negative, fractional, or variable exponential degrees.


Q

Quadrant: A section of the coordinate plane described by the signs of the coordinates it holds


R


S

Slope: The rate of which a function increases or decreases. Slope is constant in linear functions, but non-linear functions have changing slopes.
Synthetic Division: A process of doing long division much quicker and in a visually easy fashion.


T

Term: An expression bound by multiplication and division. A term does not contain any addition or subtraction.


U


V

Variable: An unknown value dictated by a letter or symbol.


W


X


Y


Z

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