Geometry Terms for Mathematics I

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acute angle

Any angle measuring between 0o and 90o

alternate exterior angles

When parallel lines are cut by a transversal, a pair of angles that are exterior to the parallel lines on opposite sides of the transversal are congruent

altitude

In a quadrilateral, a segment perpendicular to both bases; in a triangle, a segment perpendicular to the base opposite a vertex of the triangle

area

The number of square units that will cover a surface

base

Any side of a parallelogram that is perpendicular to the height; the two opposite and parallel faces of a prism; the base of a pyramid opposite the vertex

center

Middle point of a circle equidistant from all points on the circle; middle point of a sphere equidistant from all points on the sphere; or middle point of a regular polygon inscribed in a circle equidistant from all vertices

circle

The set of all points in a plane that are equidistant from the center point

circle graph

A statistical chart shaped like a circle and used to compare parts of a whole

circular cone

A three-dimensional shape that has one vertex opposite one base

circular cylinder

A three-dimensional shape that has two parallel congruent bases shaped like circles

circumference

The perimeter or distance around a circle

congruent figures

Figures that are exactly the same size and shape, with corresponding congruent angles and corresponding congruent sides

coordinate system

Two perpendicular lines that intersect at the zero points to form a plane that includes the x- and y- axes

diameter

The distance across a circle through its center. A chord containing the center of a circle.

dilation

Reducing or enlarging a figure

edge

The intersection of two faces of a three-dimensional figure

equiangular triangle

An acute triangle with three congruent angles measuring 60o each

equilateral triangle

A triangle with three congruent sides

face

Any surface forming the side or base of a prism, pyramid, cone or cylinder

geometric sequence

When a list of numbers are related by multiplying the previous number by a constant factor

gram

The weight measurement unit of the metric system

graph

A dot marking a point on the number line or in the coordinate plane

height

The length of the altitude in a triangle or quadrilateral

hypotenuse

In a right triangle, the side opposite the right angle

inch

A linear measurement unit of the customary or standard system

indirect measurement

A method of measuring objects using a proportion without measuring the object itself

isosceles triangle

A triangle with two congruent sides

leg

In a right triangle, either of the two sides intersecting to form the vertex at the right angle

line

An undefined term in geometry; extends in both directions; has no thickness or width; formed with double arrows

line symmetry

Figures that match point for point when folded in half along a line

line of symmetry

A fold line that shows symmetry of a figure

linear measure

The measurement of length or distance in a straight line

liter

The liquid capacity measurement unit of the metric system

median

In a triangle, the segment joining the vertex to the midpoint of the side opposite; in a trapezoid, the segment joining the midpoints of the two legs

meter

The linear measurement unit of the metric system

metric system

A system of weights and measures based on ten.

obtuse angle

Any angle measuring between 90o and 180 o

obtuse triangle

Any triangle containing one angle measuring between 90o and 180 o

ordered pair

A pair of numbers representing a point on the coordinate plane, listed in parentheses in the order of (x, y). For example: In the ordered pair (3, 4), x = 3 and y = 4

origin

The point on the coordinate plane where the x- and y- axes intersect

parallel lines

Lines that lie in the same plane but do not intersect

parallelogram

A quadrilateral with two pair of opposite sides parallel

pentagon

A quadrilateral with five sides

perfect square

Squares of whole numbers. For example: 22 = 2.2, or 4

perpendicular lines

Lines that intersect forming right angles at the point of intersection

polygon

A closed geometric figure in a plane formed by three or more segments

precision

The smallest unit of measure by a given measuring instrument is its. The smaller the unit, the more precise the measure.

prism

A three-dimensional figure with two congruent and parallel opposite bases in the shape of a polygon

pyramid

A three-dimensional figure with three or more triangular lateral faces and only one base opposite a vertex

Pythagorean Theorem

A discovery attributed to Pythagoras in which the square on the hypotenuse equals the sum of the squares on the legs of a right triangle. The formula is written c2 = a2 + b2

Pythagorean triple

A set of three integers which satisfy the Pythagorean Theorem.

quadrant

One of the four regions formed by the intersection of the x- and y-axes in the coordinate plane

radical sign

The symbol used to represent a square root and looks like this: Ö

radius

The distance from the center of a circle to any point on the circle

rectangle

A parallelogram with four right angles

rectangular prism

A prism with rectangular bases

reflection

A mirror image of a figure across a line of symmetry

rhombus

A parallelogram with four congruent sides

radius

The distance from the center of a circle to any point on the circle

right angle

Any angle measuring exactly 90o

right triangle

A triangle with one angle measuring exactly 90o

rotation

Transformation of a tessellation that involves a turn about the vertices of the base figure

rotational symmetry

Symmetry obtained by rotating a figure about a fixed point less than 360o

scale factor

The ratio of a dilated image to the original image

scalene triangle

A triangle with no two sides congruent

similar figures

Figures having the same shape but may differ in size. The corresponding angles are congruent and the corresponding sides are proportional

similar polygons

Two polygons with corresponding angles congruent and corresponding sides proportional

solid

A three-dimensional figure

square

A parallelogram with all sides congruent and all angles congruent

square root

One of two equal factors that form a perfect square

surface area

The sum of the area of all the faces of a three-dimension figure

symmetric

Figures that can be folded into two identical parts

tessellation

A repetitive pattern of polygons that fit together with no holes or gaps

transformations

Movement of geometric figures to modify tessellations

translation

To translate a point as described by an ordered pair

transversal

A line that cuts or intersects two other lines forming 8 angles

trapezoid

A quadrilateral with exactly one pair of opposite parallel sides

triangular prism

A prism with triangular shaped opposite and parallel bases

trigonometry

The study of triangle measurement

vertex

A vertex of a polygon is the point where any two sides intersect. A vertex of a pyramid is the point where all the faces intersect.

volume

The number of cubic units needed to fill a space, such as a prism or cylinder

x-axis

The horizontal line in the coordinate plane

x-coordinate

The first number in an ordered pair, (x, y)

y-axis

The vertical line in the coordinate plane

y-coordinate

The second number in an ordered pair, (x, y)
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