Key terms & definitions

The change in the vertical-axis value divided by the change in the horizontal-axis value.

The change in the vertical value divided by the change in the horizontal value; on a distance–time graph, it gives speed.

The change in the vertical coordinate divided by the corresponding change in the horizontal coordinate. On a velocity-time graph, gradient represents acceleration.

The change in $y$ divided by the corresponding change in $x$ between two points on a line.

The change in y for each increase of one unit in x; the coefficient $b$ in $y=a+bx$.

A function that gives the gradient of a curve at each value of $x$, written $\frac{dy}{dx}$.

Combining Greek and Egyptian cultural traditions, including forms of kingship and religious expression.

Writing scratched into a surface, such as a plaster wall.

The direction in which the fibres run through a piece of wood.

The visible texture of an image, which can make it appear less smooth or polished.

A pattern marking indicating the direction in which a piece must be positioned relative to the fabric grain.

The compulsory seizure of grain from peasants by the state.

The mass of paper or board per unit area, commonly expressed in grams per square metre (gsm).

A school principally educating boys in Latin grammar, classical literature and religious texts.

A state secondary school that selects pupils according to academic ability through an entrance test.

The perspective from which someone writes: first person (‘I’, ‘we’), second person (‘you’) or third person (‘he’, ‘she’, ‘they’).

An advanced teacher in ancient Rome who taught Latin and Greek language and literature, including the interpretation and recitation of texts.

A machine that plays recorded sound from discs; also called a phonograph or record player.

The wartime partnership of Britain, the USA and the USSR against their common enemies in the Second World War.

The statement of grievances and proposed reforms concerning Charles I’s government passed by the House of Commons in November 1641.

An extended journey around continental Europe undertaken mainly by wealthy young men to complete their education, especially between 1660 and 1820.

An award of money for a specific purpose that normally does not have to be repaid, provided its conditions are met.

A person who reads and attends to the Guru Granth Sahib and may lead ceremonies; not an ordained priest.

Decoration made by attaching groups of tiny gold balls to a surface.

Small pieces of polymer used as feedstock for processes such as injection moulding and extrusion; also called pellets.

A visual representation used to display data or the relationship between variables.

A picture of the points whose coordinates satisfy an equation.

A single, one-atom-thick layer of graphite in which carbon atoms form a sheet of hexagonal rings.

A single layer of graphite, consisting of a flat sheet of covalently bonded carbon atoms one atom thick.

A sheet of carbon atoms arranged in a hexagonal lattice, just one atom thick.