Glossary

A
absolute minimum
absolute maximum
A function has an absolute minimum if there
A function has an absolute maximum if there is a point that has a y-coordinate that is less
is a point that has a y-coordinate that is than the y-coordinates of every other point
greater than the y-coordinates of every other on the graph.
point on the graph.
Example
Example
The ordered pair (1, 24) is the absolute
The ordered pair (4, 2) is the absolute minimum of the graph of the function
maximum of the graph of the function 2 4 10
1 2 y 5 __
​​  3 ​​x2 2 __
​​  3 ​​x 2 ___
​​  3 ​​.
f(x) 5 2​​ __
2 ​​x 1 4x 2 6.
y
y

8
8
6
6
4
4
(4, 2) y = 2 x 2 – 4 x – 10 2
3 3 3
2

–8 –6 –4 –2 0 2 4 6 8 x
–8 –6 –4 –2 0 2 4 6 8 x
–2
–2
–4
–4 (1, –4)
–6
–6
–8
–8
1
y = – x2 + 4x – 6
2

argument of a function

The argument of a function is the variable on

which the function operates.
Example
In the function f(x 1 5) 5 32, the argument is
x 1 5.

Glossary • G-1
arithmetic sequence axis of symmetry

An arithmetic sequence is a sequence of The axis of symmetry of a parabola is the

numbers in which the difference between any vertical line that passes through the vertex and
two consecutive terms is a constant. divides the parabola into two mirror images.
Example Example
The sequence 1, 3, 5, 7 is an arithmetic Line K is the axis of symmetry of this parabola.
sequence with a common difference of 2.
K

average rate of change

Another name for the slope of a linear function

is average rate of change. The formula for the
f(t) 2 f(s)
average rate of change is ​​ ________
t 2 s ​​.
Example
The average rate of change of the function
shown is 3.

y
B
base
8
The base of a power is the factor that is
6
multiplied repeatedly in the power.
4
Example
2
23 5 2 3 2 3 2 5 8 80 5 1
–8 –6 –4 –2 0 2 4 6 8 x
–2 base base
–4

–6
basic function
–8
A basic function is the simplest function of
its type.
Example
The basic linear function is f(x) 5 x.
The basic exponential function is g(x) 5 2 x.
The basic quadratic function is h(x) 5 x2.

binomial

Polynomials with exactly two terms

are binomials.
Example
The polynomial 3x 1 5 is a binomial.

G-2 • Glossary
boundary line closed (closure)

A boundary line, determined by the inequality When an operation is performed on any of the
in a linear inequality, divides the plane into two numbers in a set and the result is a number
half-planes and the inequality symbol indicates that is also in the same set, the set is said to be
which half-plane contains all the solutions. closed (or to have closure) under that operation.
Example Example
For the linear inequality y . 2x 1 8, the The set of whole numbers is closed under
boundary line is a dashed line because no point addition. The sum of any two whole numbers is
on that line is a solution. always another whole number.

8
coefficient of determination
6 The coefficient of determination, r2, measures
4 how well the graph of a regression fits the
2 data. It is calculated by squaring the correlation
coefficient and represents the percentage of
–8 –6 –4 –2 0 2 4 6 8 x variation of the observed values of the data
–2 points from their predicted values.
–4
Example
–6
The correlation coefficient for a data set is
–8
20.9935. The coefficient of determination for
the same data set is approximately 0.987, which
means 98.7% of the data values should fall on
the graph.
C
causation common difference

Causation is when one event affects the The difference between any two consecutive
outcome of a second event. terms in an arithmetic sequence is called the
common difference. It is typically represented by
the variable d.
centroid Example
The centroid is a point whose x-value is the The sequence 1, 3, 5, 7 is an arithmetic
mean of all the x-values of the points on the sequence with a common difference of 2.
scatter plot and its y-value is the mean of all the
y-values of the points on the scatter plot.
Example
common ratio

For the data points (1, 3), (1, 7), (2, 6), (3, 5), and The ratio between any two consecutive terms
(3, 4), the centroid is (2, 5). in a geometric sequence is called the common
ratio. It is typically represented by the variable r.
Example
The sequence 2, 4, 8, 16 is a geometric
sequence with a common ratio of 2.

Glossary • G-3
common response confounding variable

A common response is when a variable other A confounding variable is when there are other
than the ones measured cause the same result variables in an experiment that are unknown
as the one observed in the experiment. or unobserved.

completing the square conjecture

Completing the square is a process for writing a A conjecture is a mathematical statement

quadratic expression in vertex form which then that appears to be true, but has not been
allows you to solve for the zeros. formally proven.

compound interest consistent systems

In a compound interest account, the balance is Systems that have one or many solutions are
multiplied by the same amount at each interval. called consistent systems.
Example
Sonya opens a savings account with $100. She constant function
earns $4 in compound interest the first year.
The compound interest y is found by using the If the dependent variable of a function does not
equation y 5 100(1 1 0.04) t, where t is the time change or remains constant over the entire domain,
in years. then the function is called a constant function.
Example
concave down The function shown is a constant function.

A graph that opens downward is identified as f(x)

being concave down. 10

concave down

concave up 0
10 x

A graph that opens upward is identified as being constraints

concave up.
y In a system of linear inequalities, the inequalities
are known as constraints because the values of
the expressions are “constrained” to lie within a
certain region on the graph.
x

concave up

G-4 • Glossary
continuous graph correlation coefficient

A continuous graph is a graph of points that The correlation coefficient is a value between 21
are connected by a line or smooth curve on the and 1, which indicates how close the data are
graph. Continuous graphs have no breaks. to the graph of the regression equation. The
closer the correlation coefficient is to 21 or 1,
Example
the stronger the relationship is between the two
The graph shown is a continuous graph. variables. The variable r is used to represent the
correlation coefficient.
y
10
Example
The correlation coefficient for these data
is 20.9935. The value is negative because the
equation has a negative slope. The value is close
to 21 because the data are very close to the
–10 0 10 x graph of the equation of the line.

How Long Does an Ice

y Sculpture Last?

108
–10

Percent of Sculpture Remaining

96

84

correlation 72

60
A correlation is a measure of the strength of the 48
relationship between two variables.
36

24

12

0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 x
Time (hours)

Glossary • G-5
 D
difference of two squares
decreasing function
The difference of two squares is an expression in
If a function decreases across the entire domain, the form a2 2 b2 that can be factored as
then the function is called a decreasing function. (a 1 b)(a 2 b).
Example
The function shown is a decreasing function. discrete graph
f(x)
A discrete graph is a graph of isolated points.
10
Example
The graph shown is a discrete graph.

y
10

0 x
10

–10 0 10 x
degree

The degree of a polynomial is the greatest

variable exponent in the expression.

–10
degree of a polynomial

The greatest exponent for any variable term

in a polynomial determines the degree of discriminant
the polynomial.
Example The discriminant is the radicand expression in
the Quadratic Formula which “discriminates” the
The polynomial 2x3 1 5x2 2 6x 1 1 has a number of real roots of a quadratic equation.
degree of 3.
Example
The discriminant in the Quadratic Formula is the
dependent quantity expression b2 2 4ac.

When one quantity is determined by another in a

problem situation, it is said to be the dependent domain
quantity.
Example The domain is the set of input values in a relation.

In the relationship between driving time and Example

distance traveled, distance is the dependent The domain of the function y 5 2x is the set of all
quantity, because distance depends on the real numbers.
driving time.

G-6 • Glossary
double root exponential decay function

The root of an equation indicates where the An exponential decay function is an exponential
graph of the equation crosses the x-axis. function with a b-value greater than 0 and less
A double root occurs when the graph just than 1 and is of the form y 5 a ? (1 2 r) x, where r
touches the x-axis but does not cross it. is the rate of decay.
Example Example
The quadratic equation y 5 (x 2 2) has a double
2
Greenville has a population of 7000. Its
root at x 5 2. population is decreasing at a rate of 1.75%. The
y exponential decay function that models this
situation is f(x) 5 7000 ? 0.9825x.
8
6
4
exponential functions
2 The family of exponential functions includes
functions of the form f(x) 5 a ? bx, where a and b
–6 –4 –2 0 2 4 6 x
–2 are real numbers, and b is greater than 0 but is
not equal to 1.
–4
Example
The function f(x) 5 2 x is an exponential function.

E
exponential growth function
explicit formula
An exponential growth function is an
An explicit formula of a sequence is a formula for exponential function with a b-value greater than
calculating the value of each term of a sequence 1 and is of the form y 5 a ? (1 1 r) x, where r is
using the term’s position in the sequence. The the rate of growth.
explicit formula for an arithmetic sequence is Example
an 5 a1 1 d(n 2 1). The explicit formula for a
geometric sequence is gn 5 g1 ? r n 2 1. Blueville has a population of 7000. Its population
is increasing at a rate of 1.4%. The exponential
Example growth function that models this situation is
The sequence 1, 3, 5, 7, 9, . . . can be described f(x) 5 7000 ? 1.014 x.
by the rule an 5 2n 2 1 where n is the position of
the term. The fourth term of the sequence
a4 is 2(4) 2 1, or 7. extract the square root

To extract a square root, solve an equation of

the form a2 5 b for a.
exponent

The exponent of the power is the number of extrapolation

times the base is used as a factor.
Example To make predictions for values of x that are
outside of the data set is called extrapolation.
23 5 2 3 2 3 2 5 8 84 5 8 3 8 3 8 3 8 5 4096

exponent exponent

Glossary • G-7
 F
finite sequence
Factor Theorem
If a sequence terminates, it is called a
The Factor Theorem states that a polynomial
finite sequence.
function p(x) has x 2 r as a factor if and only if the
value of the function at r is 0, or p(r) 5 0. Example
The sequence 22, 26, 30 is a finite sequence.
factored form

A quadratic function written in factored form is in

the form f(x) 5 a(x 2 r1)(x 2 r2), where a fi 0.
Example
The function h(x) 5 x2 2 8x 1 12 written in
factored form is (x 2 6)(x 2 2).

first differences

First differences are the values determined by subtracting consecutive output values in a table
when the input values have an interval of 1.
Example

Time (minutes) Height (feet)

First Differences
0 0
12051 1800 2 0 5 1800
1 1800
22151 3600 2 1800 5 1800
2 3600
32251 5400 2 3600 5 1800
3 5400

function function notation

A function is a relation that assigns to each Function notation is a way of representing

element of the domain exactly one element of functions algebraically.
the range.
Example
Example
In the function f(x) 5 0.75x, f is the name of
The equation y 5 2x is a function. Every value of x the function, x represents the domain, and f(x)
has exactly one corresponding y-value. represents the range.

function family

A function family is a group of functions that

share certain characteristics.
Example
Linear functions and exponential functions are
examples of function families.

G-8 • Glossary
 G
horizontal asymptote
general form (standard form) of a
quadratic function A horizontal asymptote is a horizontal line
that a function gets closer and closer to, but
A quadratic function written in the form never intersects.
f(x) 5 ax2 1 bx 1 c, where a fi 0, is in general
Example
form, or standard form.
The graph shows a horizontal asymptote at
Example
y 5 21.
The function f(x) 5 25x2 2 10x 1 1 is written in
general form. y

4
geometric sequence 3

2
A geometric sequence is a sequence of numbers
in which the ratio between any two consecutive 1
terms is a constant.
–4 –3 –2 –1 0 1 2 3 4 x
Example –1
The sequence 2, 4, 8, 16 is a geometric sequence –2
with a common ratio of 2.
–3

–4
H
half-plane

The graph of a linear inequality is a half-plane, or I

half of a coordinate plane.
Example inconsistent systems
The shaded portion of the graph is a half-plane. Systems with no solution are called
inconsistent systems.
y

18

16

14

12

10

0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 x

Glossary • G-9
increasing function infinite solutions

If a function increases across the entire An equation with infinite solutions means
domain, then the function is called an that any value for the variable makes the
increasing function. equation true.
Example Example
The function shown is an increasing function. The equation 2x 1 1 5 2x 1 1 has
infinite solutions.
f(x)

10
f interpolation

Using a linear regression to make predictions

within the data set is called interpolation.

L
leading coefficient

The leading coefficient of a polynomial is the

0
10 x numeric coefficient of the term with the
greatest power.
Example
independent quantity
In the polynomial 27x2 1 x 1 25, the value 27 is
The quantity that the dependent the leading coefficient.
quantity depends upon is called
the independent quantity.
Example
In the relationship between driving time
and distance traveled, driving time is the
independent quantity, because it does not
depend on any other quantity.

infinite sequence

If a sequence continues on forever, it is called an

infinite sequence.
Example
The sequence 22, 26, 30, 34 . . . is an
infinite sequence.

G-10 • Glossary
Least Squares Method linear combinations method

The Least Squares Method is a method that The linear combinations method is a process
creates a regression line for a scatterplot that used to solve a system of equations by adding
has two basic requirements: 1) the line must two equations together, resulting in an equation
contain the centroid of the data set, and 2) the with one variable.
sum of the squares of the vertical distances
Example
from each given data point is at a minimum with
the line. Solve the following system of equations by using
the linear combinations method:
Example
 6x 2 5y 5 3
The regression line shown was created using the
2x 1 2y 5 12
Least Squares Method.
First, multiply the second equation by 23. Then,
y
Production of Trinkets add the equations and solve for the remaining
variable. Finally, substitute y 5 3 into the first
180 equation and solve for x. The solution of the
system is (3, 3).
160
Trinkets Produced (trinkets)

140

120 linear functions

100
The family of linear functions includes functions
80 of the form f(x) 5 ax 1 b, where a and b are
60 real numbers.
40 Example
20
The function f(x) 5 3x 1 2 is a linear function.
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 x
Time (hours)
line of reflection

A line of reflection is the line that the graph is

linear absolute value equation reflected across.
Example
An equation in the form |x 1 a| 5 c is a linear
absolute value equation. The graph of y 5 |x| 1 2 was reflected across
the line of reflection, y 5 0.
Example
y
The equation |x 2 1| 5 6 is a linear absolute
value equation. 8

linear absolute value functions 4

2
The family of linear absolute value functions
includes functions of the form f(x) 5 a|x 1 b| 1 c, –8 –6 –4 –2 0 2 4 6 8 x
where a, b, and c are real numbers, and a is not –2
equal to 0.
–4
Example
–6
The function f(x) 5 |x 2 3| 2 2 is a linear
–8
absolute value function.

Glossary • G-11
 P
literal equation
parabola
Literal equations are equations in which the
variables represent specific measures. The shape that a quadratic function forms when
graphed is called a parabola. A parabola is a
Example smooth curve with reflectional symmetry.
The equations I 5 Prt and A 5 lw are Example
literal equations.
y

M 8

6
mathematical modeling 4
(4, 2)
2
Mathematical modeling is explaining patterns in
the real world based on mathematical ideas. –8 –6 –4 –2 0 2 4 6 8 x
–2

–4

monomial –6

–8
Polynomials with only one term are monomials. 1
y = – x2 + 4x – 6
2

Example
The expressions 5x, 7, 22xy, and 13x3
are monomials. perfect square trinomial

A perfect square trinomial is an expression in the

N form a2 1 2ab 1 b2 or in the form a2 2 2ab 1 b2.
necessary condition
point-slope form
A necessary condition is one which must be
present in order for another condition to occur. The point-slope form of a linear equation is
Example y 2 y1 5 m(x 2 x1) where m is the slope of the line
and (x1, y1) is a point on the line.
A correlation is a necessary condition for
causation, meaning that for one variable to cause
another, they must be correlated.
polynomial

A polynomial is a mathematical expression

no solution involving the sum of powers in one or more
variables multiplied by coefficients.
An equation with no solution means that there is
no value for the variable that makes the equation Example
true. The expression 3x3 1 5x 2 6x 1 1 is
Example a polynomial.
The equation 2x 1 1 5 2x 1 3 has no solution.

G-12 • Glossary
polynomial long division quadratic functions

Polynomial long division is an algorithm for The family of quadratic functions includes
dividing one polynomial by another of equal or functions of the form f(x) 5 ax2 1 bx 1 c, where a,
lesser degree. b, and c are real numbers, and a is not equal to 0.
Example Examples
4x2 2 6x 1 3 The equations y 5 x2 1 2x 1 5 and
y 5 24x2 2 7x 1 1 are quadratic functions.
2x 1 3 8x3 1 0x2 2 12x 2 7
2(8x3 1 12x2)
212x2 2 12x R
2(212x2 2 18x) range
6x 2 7 The range is the set of output values in a relation.
2(6x 1 9) Example
Remainder 216 The range of the function y 5 x2 is the set of all
numbers greater than or equal to zero.
power

A power has two elements; the base and the recursive formula
exponent.
A recursive formula expresses each new term of
Example a sequence based on the preceding term in the
base 62 exponent sequence. The recursive formula for an arithmetic
sequence is an 5 an 2 1 1 d. The recursive formula
j

Power
for a geometric sequence is gn 5 gn 2 1 ? r.
Example
principal square root The formula an 5 an 2 1 1 2 is a recursive formula.
Each successive term is calculated by adding 2 to
A positive square root of a number. the previous term. If a1 5 1, then a2 5 1 1 2 5 3.

Q
Remainder Theorem
Quadratic Formula
__________ The Remainder Theorem states that the remainder
2b  √​ b2 2 4ac ​
The Quadratic Formula is x 5​​  ________________
   2a ​​, when dividing a polynomial by (x 2 r) is the value
and can be used to calculate the solutions to any of the polynomial at r.
quadratic equation of the form ax2 1 bx 1 c, where Example
a, b, and c represent real numbers and a fi 0.
The value of the polynomial x2 1 5x 1 2 at 1 is
(1)2 1 5(1) 1 2 5 8. So, the remainder when
x2 1 5x 1 2 is divided by x 2 1 is 8.

___ x16
2 1⟌x2 1 5x 1 2​​
​​  x  
​​x2 2 x​​
¯ 6x 1 2
​​6x 2 6​​
¯ 8

Glossary • G-13
reflection root (roots)

A reflection of a graph is a mirror image of the The root or roots of an equation indicate where
graph about a line of reflection. the graph of the equation crosses the x-axis.
Example Example
The triangle on the right is a reflection of the The roots of the quadratic equation
triangle on the left. x2 2 4x 1 3 5 0 are x 5 3 and x 5 1.

y y

8
8
6
6
4
4
2
2
x
(1, 0) (3, 0)
–10 –8 –6 –4 –2 0 2 4 6
–2 –6 –4 –2 0 2 4 6 x
–2
–4
–4
–6
Line of –8
Reflection

S
regression line second differences

On a scatterplot, a regression line is a Second differences are the differences between

mathematical model that can be used to predict consecutive values of the first differences.
the values of a dependent variable based upon Example
the values of an independent variable.
x y First
relation 23 25 Differences Second
Differences
22 0 5
A relation is the mapping between a set of input 22
values called the domain and a set of output 3
21 3
values called the range. 22
0 4 1
Example 22
1 3 21
The set of points {(0, 1), (1, 8), (2, 5), (3, 7)} 22
is a relation. 23
2 0
22
3 25 25

G-14 • Glossary
sequence solution of a system of linear
inequalities
A sequence is a pattern involving an ordered
arrangement of numbers, geometric figures, The solution of a system of linear inequalities
letters, or other objects. is the intersection of the solutions to each
Example inequality. Every point in the intersection region
satisfies all inequalities in the system.
The numbers 1, 1, 2, 3, 5, 8, 13 form a sequence.
Example
The solution of this system of linear inequalities …
simple interest
200a 1 100c # 800
In a simple interest account, the interest earned 75(a 2 1) 1 50c $ 150
at the end of each interval is a percent of the
starting balance (also known as the principal). … is shown by the shaded region, which
represents the intersection of the solutions to
Example each inequality.
Tonya deposits $200 in a 3-year certificate
y
of deposit that earns 4% simple interest. The
amount of interest that Tonya earns can be
8
found using the simple interest formula.
6
I 5 (200)(0.04)(3)
I 5 24 4
Tonya earns $24 in interest.
Child Rafters
2

–8 –6 –4 –2 0 2 4 6 8 x
solution –2

–4
The solution to an equation is any value
for the variable that makes the equation –6
a true statement. –8

Example
The solution of the equation 3x 1 4 5 25 is 7 Adult Rafters
because 7 makes the equation true:
3(7) 1 4 5 25, or 25 5 25.
solve an inequality

To solve an inequality means to determine

the values of the variable that make the
inequality true.
Example
The inequality x 1 5 . 6 can be solved by
subtracting 5 from each side of the inequality.
The solution is x . 1. Any number greater than 1
will make the inequality x 1 5 . 6 true.

Glossary • G-15
 T
standard form of a linear equation
term of a sequence
The standard form of a linear equation is
Ax 1 By 5 C, where A, B, and C are constants and A term of a sequence is an individual number,
A and B are not both zero. figure, or letter in the sequence.
Example
In the sequence 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, the first term
substitution method
is 2, the second term is 4, and the third term
The substitution method is a process of solving a is 6.
system of equations by substituting a variable in
one equation with an equivalent expression.
trinomial

Polynomials with exactly three terms

sufficient condition
are trinomials.
A sufficient condition is a condition or set of Example
conditions that guarantees an even will occur.
The polynomial 5x2 2 6x 1 9 is a trinomial.
Example
A correlation is not a sufficient condition for V
causation, meaning that a correlation between
two variables is not enough to establish that one vertex form
variables causes another.
A quadratic function written in vertex form is in
the form f(x) 5 a(x 2 h)2 1 k, where a fi 0.
system of linear equations Example
When two or more linear equations define a The quadratic equation y 5 2(x 2 5)2 1 10 is
relationship between quantities, they form a written in vertex form. The vertex of the graph is
system of linear equations. the point (5, 10).
Example
The equations y 5 3x 1 7 and y 5 24x are a
system of linear equations.
y 5 3x 1 7
y 5 24x
y

–8 –6 –4 –2 0 2 4 6 8 x
–2

–4

–6

–8

G-16 • Glossary
vertex of a parabola Vertical Line Test

The vertex of a parabola is the lowest or highest The Vertical Line Test is a visual method used to
point on the graph of the quadratic function. determine whether a relation represented as a
graph is a function.
Example
2 4 10 Example
The vertex of the graph of y 5 ​​ __ __ ___
3 ​​x 2 ​​  5 ​​x 2 ​​  3 ​​
2

is the point (1, 24), the absolute minimum of The equation y 5 3x2 is a function. The graph
passes the Vertical Line Test because there are
the parabola.
no vertical lines that can be drawn that would
y intersect the graph at more than one point.
8
y
6

4 30
y = 2 x 2 – 4 x – 10 2
3 3 3
25
–8 –6 –4 –2 0 2 4 6 8 x
20
–2

–4 15
(1, –4)
–6
10
–8
5

–4 –3 –2 –1 0 1 2 3 4 x
–5

–10

The equation x2 1 y2 5 9 is not a function. The

graph fails the Vertical Line Test because a
vertical line can be drawn that intersects the
graph at more than one point.

–4 –3 –2 –1 0 1 2 3 4 x
–1

–2

–3

–4

Glossary • G-17
 Z
vertical motion model
zero of a function
A vertical motion model is a quadratic equation
that models the height of an object at a given A zero of a function is a real number that makes
time. The equation is of the form the value of the function equal to zero, or f(x) 5 0.
g(t) 5 216t2 1 v0t 1 h0, where g(t) represents Example
the height of the object in feet, t represents the
time in seconds that the object has been moving, The zero of the linear function f(x) 5 2(x 2 4)
v0 represents the initial velocity (speed) of the is (4, 0).
object in feet per second, and h0 represents the The zeros of the quadratic function
initial height of the object in feet. f(x) 5 22x2 1 4x are (0, 0) and (2, 0).
Example
A rock is thrown in the air at a velocity of 10 feet Zero Product Property
per second from a cliff that is 100 feet high. The
height of the rock is modeled by the equation The Zero Product Property states that if the
y 5 216t2 1 10t 1 100. product of two or more factors is equal to zero,
then at least one factor must be equal to zero.
X
x-intercept

The point where a graph crosses the x-axis is the

x-intercept.
Y
y-intercept

The point where a graph crosses the y-axis is the

y-intercept.

G-18 • Glossary