The words maths papers use: what they mean, with an example of each.
OftenIn many papers, especially GL AssessmentAbout 60 seconds a question in the test
The big idea
Maths papers use words that mean something exact: perpendicular, quotient, isosceles, median. A child who half knows a word can lose the mark even when the working is right.
Each word has one meaning. Learn it with a picture or an example, because an example is easier to remember than a definition.
Tips that save marks
Picture an example of the word before choosing.
Watch for pairs that are easy to mix up: factor and multiple, mean and median, radius and diameter.
The Maths words page lists every word with an example.
A worked example
Which word means the result of multiplying numbers together?
Sum is adding and difference is subtracting.
Multiplying gives a product.
Answer: product.
Now try five
Try each one before you look at the answer: answering from memory is what makes it stick. Tap an option to check it. Most children get three or four right at first; five out of five means move on to the next topic.
Question 1Aim for about 60 seconds
What does “ratio” mean?
Show the worked answer
Answer: A, A way of comparing amounts of two or more things
How to work it out
“Ratio” means a way of comparing amounts of two or more things.
For example, 2 : 3 means 2 of one for every 3 of the other.
Why the other options are wrong
B (A fraction whose numerator is bigger than its denominator): That is what “improper fraction” means.
C (A whole number and a fraction written together): That is what “mixed number” means.
D (To write a fraction with the smallest possible numbers by dividing top and bottom by the same number): That is what “simplify” means.
E (The bottom number of a fraction: how many equal parts the whole is split into): That is what “denominator” means.
Question 2Aim for about 60 seconds
Which word means one flat surface of a 3D shape?
Show the worked answer
Answer: D, face
How to work it out
“Face” means one flat surface of a 3D shape.
For example, a cube has 6 faces.
Why the other options are wrong
A (parallel): “Parallel” means always the same distance apart, so they never meet however far they go.
B (equilateral triangle): “Equilateral triangle” means a triangle with all three sides the same length and every angle 60°.
C (vertex): “Vertex” means a corner, where two or more edges or lines meet (more than one are vertices).
E (radius): “Radius” means the distance from the centre of a circle to its edge.
Question 3Aim for about 60 seconds
What does “translation” mean?
Show the worked answer
Answer: D, A move of a shape left, right, up or down without turning or flipping it
How to work it out
“Translation” means a move of a shape left, right, up or down without turning or flipping it.
For example, slide 3 squares to the right.
Why the other options are wrong
A (A flat pattern that folds up to make a 3D shape): That is what “net” means.
B (A corner, where two or more edges or lines meet (more than one are vertices)): That is what “vertex” means.
C (A triangle with all three sides the same length and every angle 60°): That is what “equilateral triangle” means.
E (A line that cuts a shape into two halves that are mirror images): That is what “line of symmetry” means.
Question 4Aim for about 60 seconds
Which word means a way of writing times from 00:00 to 23:59 so that no am or pm is needed?
Show the worked answer
Answer: D, 24-hour clock
How to work it out
“24-hour clock” means a way of writing times from 00:00 to 23:59 so that no am or pm is needed.
For example, 3.15 pm is 15:15.
Why the other options are wrong
A (volume): “Volume” means the amount of space a 3D shape takes up, measured in cubes.
B (leap year): “Leap year” means a year of 366 days, with 29 February, coming every four years.
C (area): “Area” means the amount of flat space a shape covers, measured in squares.
E (metric units): “Metric units” means the units built on tens: millimetres, centimetres, metres, grams, kilograms, millilitres and litres.
Question 5Aim for about 60 seconds
Which word means a line that cuts a shape into two halves that are mirror images?
Show the worked answer
Answer: B, line of symmetry
How to work it out
“Line of symmetry” means a line that cuts a shape into two halves that are mirror images.
For example, a square has 4 lines of symmetry.
Why the other options are wrong
A (rhombus): “Rhombus” means a quadrilateral with four equal sides, like a square pushed over.
C (equilateral triangle): “Equilateral triangle” means a triangle with all three sides the same length and every angle 60°.
D (translation): “Translation” means a move of a shape left, right, up or down without turning or flipping it.
E (net): “Net” means a flat pattern that folds up to make a 3D shape.
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