Geometry Terms for Mathematics I
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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
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
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
The distance across a circle through its center. A chord containing the center of a circle.
dilation
Reducing or enlarging a figure
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
Any surface forming the side or base of a prism, pyramid, cone or cylinder
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
The length of the altitude in a triangle or quadrilateral
hypotenuse
In a right triangle, the side opposite the right angle
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
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
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.
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
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.
One of the four regions formed by the intersection of the x- and y-axes in the coordinate plane
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
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
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
The horizontal line in the coordinate plane
x-coordinate
The first number in an ordered pair, (x, y)
The vertical line in the coordinate plane
y-coordinate
The second number in an ordered pair, (x, y)