Mathematics Fundamentals
Public flashcard deck about Mathematics Fundamentals. 8 cards.
About this deck
Everything you need to know before you start
Cards Preview
Showing 6 of 8 cards - start studying to see them all
What is the order of operations, often remembered by the acronym PEMDAS?
PEMDAS stands for Parentheses, Exponents, Multiplication and Division (from left to right), Addition and Subtraction (from left to right). It dictates the sequence in which operations should be performed in a mathematical expression to ensure a consistent result.
Define the term 'variable' in algebra.
A variable is a symbol, usually a letter, that represents an unknown or changing quantity in a mathematical expression or equation.
What is the difference between an integer and a rational number?
Integers are whole numbers (positive, negative, or zero), while rational numbers are any numbers that can be expressed as a fraction p/q, where p and q are integers and q is not zero. All integers are rational numbers, but not all rational numbers are integers.
Explain the concept of 'prime factorization'.
Prime factorization is the process of breaking down a composite number into its prime factors, which are prime numbers that multiply together to equal the original number. Every composite number has a unique prime factorization (Fundamental Theorem of Arithmetic).
What is the distributive property of multiplication over addition?
The distributive property states that multiplying a sum by a number is the same as multiplying each addend by the number and then adding the products. Mathematically, a(b + c) = ab + ac.
Define 'absolute value'.
The absolute value of a number is its distance from zero on the number line, regardless of direction. It is always a non-negative value. It is denoted by two vertical bars, e.g., |x|.