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EnchantedLearning.com Math Dictionary

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M is for ...

M M equals 1000 in Roman numerals.

5 4 6 6 5 4 4 6 5 magic square In a magic square, the rows, columns, and diagonals all add up to the same number.

map A map (also called a cartograph) shows the features of an area. You can find your way around by using a map.

mathematician A mathematician is a person who studies mathematics.

mathematics Mathematics is the study of numbers, shapes, patterns, and logical reasoning.

maze Getting through the passages of a maze is tricky.

mean, arithmetic The arithmetic mean of a set of numbers (also called the average) is equal to the sum of the numbers divided by the number of numbers. For example, for the data set {1, 2, 3, 6}, the mean = (1+2+3+6)/4 = 12/4 = 3.

measurement Measurement is the act of determining size, weight, volume, amount, capacity, or degree. For example, a measuring cup is useful for determining the amounts of ingredients when cooking.

{1, 2, 5, 8, 10} median The median of a set of numbers is the middle number (when the numbers are in order). When the number of numbers is odd, the median is the middle number; when the number of numbers is even, the median is the average of the two middle numbers. For example, the median of the set {1,2,5,8,10} is 5. The median of the set {1,2,5,6,9,10} is 5.5.

median The median of a triangle is a line segment from a vertex to the midpoint of the opposite side. The median of a trapezoid is a line segment that connects the midpoints of the non-parallel sides.

mental math Mental math is math that is done in your head, without writing or using a calculator or other device.

milli Milli is a prefix that means one-thousandth. For example, a millimeter is one thousandth of a meter.

million A million is 1,000,000 or one thousand thousand or 106.

minuend The minuend is the number from which another number is subtracted in a subtraction problem.

- minus sign The mathematical symbol - means "minus." Four minus three is written, 4 - 3.

minute A minute is a measure of angle that is equal to 1/60th of a degree.

minute A minute is a measure of time that is 1/60th of an hour. A minute is composed of 60 seconds.

minute hand A minute hand on a clock tells you how many minutes past the hour it is.

1 2/3 mixed number A mixed number is a number that is written as a whole number plus a fraction, like 1 2/3.

Möbius strip A Möbius strip is a piece of paper with only one side!	mode The mode of a group of numbers is the number that occurs the most in that set. For example, in the set {1, 2, 3, 3, 3, 8}, the mode is 3.	modular arithmetic Modular arithmetic is arithmetic done with a limited set of numbers. For example, clock arithmetic is an example of modular arithmetic; when adding hours, 11+2=1 (and not 13).	money Money is used as a basis for trade. Most money is decimal (based on the number 10). Only a few countries have money with another base (like Madagascar and Mauritania, which have base 5 money).
monomial A monomial is a polynomial expression with only one term. For example, 3xy is a monomial; the number 6 is also a monomial.	month There are 12 months in a year: January, February, March, April, May, June, July, August, September, October, November, and December.	Müller, Johann Johann Müller, also known as Johann Regiomontanus (1436-1476) was a German astronomer and mathematician. He studied trigonometry, translating Ptolemy's Almagest, from the original Greek. Ironically, his translation helped overthrow the Ptolemaic view of the universe (in which the Earth was thought to be at the center of the universe). He also did work on plane and spherical trigonometry. Muller also observed the motion of the moon, planets, and comets. A 108 km diameter lunar crater, called Regiomontanus (latitude -28.3 degrees, longitude 1.0 degrees), was named for Muller.	Multiples of 2: 2,4,6,8,10,12,... multiple A multiple of a number is the product of the original number and another number. For example, the multiples of the 2 are 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, 14, 16, and so on.
multiplicand The multiplicand is the number that is multiplied by the multiplier in a multiplication problem.	1 x 2 = 2 2 x 3 = 6 multiplication Multiplication is a mathematical operation used to compute areas and volumes, and also in many other calculations.	1 multiplicative identity The multiplicative identity (also called the identity for multiplication) is one, because a x 1 = 1 x a = a. For example, 2x1=1x2=2.	multiplicative inverse The multiplicative inverse of a is 1/a (where a is not equal to zero), since for every non-zero number a, a x (1/a) = 1.

multiplier The multiplier is the number by which the multiplicand is multiplied.

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EnchantedLearning.com Math Dictionary

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Counting

Addition

Subtraction

Multiplication

Division

Number Line

Fractions

Decimals

Graphs

Measurement

Rounding

Click on an underlined word for more information on that subject. If the math term you are looking for is not in the dictionary, please e-mail us.

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