TERMINOLOGY Review of Introductory MathematicsIsdefinedasA mathematical expression for defining a symbol or variable in mathematics. It is usuallygiven the symbol .PlusorMinusWhile plus (+) and minus (-) are used individually to indicate addition and subtraction,this form is used to denote a control band, or tolerance band, or error band, such as 100+ 5 psig. It is given the symbol +.nthrootFor any integer (n greater than one), the nth root ( ) of a is defined as follows:nana= b if, and only if, bn = a. The number n, in , is called the index of the root. The nthnaroot of a number (a) is a number (b) which has the property that the product of n valuesof b is a. For example, the third (or cube) root of 8 is 2, because 2x2x2equals 8.AbsoluteValueofaThis expression represents the magnitude of a variable without regard to its sign. Itsignifies the distance from zero on a number line. That is, the absolute value of -6 is 6because -6 is 6 units from zero. Likewise, the absolute value of +6 is 6 because it, too,is 6 units from zero. It is given the symbol where A is any number or variable.ASumofNvaluesxi indicates the sum of numbered (indexed) values. For example, if the xi are gradesfor the individual students in a class, the sum of the xi (grades) for the students in theclass of N students, divided by N, gives the average grade.AngleAn angle is a set of points consisting of two rays with a common midpoint. It is giventhe symbol .PercentAn expression used to indicate a fraction of the whole, such as 50% of 90 is 45. It isgiven the symbol %.MultipliedbyA mathematical operation that, at its simplest, is an abbreviated process of adding aninteger to itself a specified number of times. It is given the symbols x, , or *(computer).MA-01 Page 2 Rev. 0
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