Eduqas GCSE Mathematics key terms

An increase or decrease expressed relative to the original value: $\frac{\text{new value}-\text{original value}}{\text{original value}}\times100\%$. A negative result indicates a decrease.

The factor used to calculate a new amount after a percentage change: $1+\frac{r}{100}$ for an increase of $r\%$, or $1-\frac{r}{100}$ for a decrease of $r\%$.

The distance around the boundary of a two-dimensional shape.

The smallest positive interval over which a graph’s complete pattern repeats. In degrees, sine and cosine have period $360°$ and tangent has period $180°$.

Describes lines that meet at a right angle, $90^\circ$.

A line that passes through the midpoint of a line segment and meets it at $90^\circ$.

The length of the perpendicular segment from a point to a line; it is the shortest distance between them.

The perpendicular distance from a vertex of a triangle to the opposite side, or to that side extended.

Lines that meet at a right angle.

Lines that meet at a right angle, written using $\perp$.

A diagram using repeated symbols to represent quantities, with a key giving the value of each symbol.

A circle divided into sectors whose angles represent categories’ proportions of the whole.

The constant ratio of a circle’s circumference to its diameter, approximately $3.14159$. Leaving an answer in terms of $\pi$ avoids rounding it.

The value represented by a digit because of its position in a number. For example, the 6 in $0.06$ represents six hundredths.

A two-dimensional view of a three-dimensional object, seen from directly above.

A flat surface extending indefinitely in every direction within that surface.

A flat, two-dimensional shape.

An exact position with no length, width or thickness, usually labelled with a capital letter.

A point shared by two graphs. Its coordinates satisfy both graph equations.

A closed plane figure whose boundary consists entirely of straight sides.

The whole set of people, objects or other items that an investigation is about.

The place a term occupies in a sequence, usually counted from 1.

A rule that uses a term's position to calculate its value directly. An algebraic position-to-term rule is often called an nth-term formula, where $n$ represents the position.

The complete collection of possible outcomes of an experiment, also called a sample space.

An expression representing repeated multiplication of a base: $a^n$ contains $n$ factors of $a$ when $n$ is a positive integer.

Force per unit area: $\text{pressure}=\frac{\text{force}}{\text{area}}$. Common units are N/m² or pascals.

Writing an integer greater than 1 as a product of prime numbers, for example $60=2^2\times3\times5$.

An integer greater than 1 with exactly two distinct positive factors: 1 and itself.

The original sum of money invested or borrowed, before interest is added.