SAT Math Vocabulary
Click the card to flip. Master these terms to avoid costly misunderstandings on test day.
Every formula and concept tested on the current digital SAT Math section, organized by domain — Algebra, Advanced Math, Problem-Solving & Data Analysis, and Geometry & Trig — so you study exactly what's tested, not what used to be.
Linear Equation
An equation in which the highest power of the variable is 1. Its graph is a straight line.
Example
y = 3x + 2, 2x - 5 = 11
SAT Math Glossary
All terms included in this flashcard deck, organized by domain.
Algebra
Linear Equation
An equation in which the highest power of the variable is 1. Its graph is a straight line.
Inequality
A mathematical statement comparing two expressions using <, >, ≤, or ≥. Solutions form a range of values.
Coefficient
A number multiplied by a variable in an algebraic expression.
Constant
A fixed value that does not change. A number on its own in an expression.
Slope (m)
The steepness of a line, calculated as 'rise over run' or the change in y divided by the change in x.
Y-intercept
The point where a line crosses the y-axis, where x = 0. In y = mx + b form, it is b.
Slope-Intercept Form
A linear equation written as y = mx + b, where m is the slope and b is the y-intercept.
Point-Slope Form
A linear equation written as y - y1 = m(x - x1), using a known point and slope.
System of Equations
A set of two or more equations with the same variables. The solution is the point where their graphs intersect.
Substitution Method
Solving a system by solving one equation for a variable and substituting it into the other equation.
Elimination Method
Solving a system by adding or subtracting equations to eliminate one variable.
No Solution (System)
A system where the lines are parallel and never intersect. The equations simplify to a false statement.
Infinite Solutions
A system where both equations describe the same line. They simplify to an identity.
Absolute Value
The distance of a number from zero on the number line, always non-negative.
Compound Inequality
Two inequalities joined by 'and' or 'or', representing a range or union of ranges.
Integer
A whole number that can be positive, negative, or zero. It cannot be a fraction or decimal.
Prime Number
An integer greater than 1 that has only two factors: 1 and itself.
Advanced Math
Quadratic Equation
A degree-2 equation of the form ax² + bx + c = 0, where a ≠ 0. Its graph is a parabola.
Parabola
The U-shaped graph of a quadratic function. It opens upward if the leading coefficient is positive.
Vertex (Parabola)
The highest or lowest point on a parabola — the turning point. Found at x = -b/(2a).
Vertex Form
A quadratic written as y = a(x - h)² + k, where (h, k) is the vertex.
Root / Zero / X-intercept
The x-values where a function equals zero — where the graph crosses the x-axis.
Factoring (Quadratics)
Rewriting a quadratic as a product of two binomials to find its roots.
Discriminant
The value b² - 4ac inside the quadratic formula. It tells you how many real roots exist.
Quadratic Formula
x = (-b ± √(b² - 4ac)) / 2a — used to find the roots of any quadratic ax² + bx + c = 0.
Exponent
A small number showing how many times a base is multiplied by itself.
Power Rule (Exponents)
When raising a power to another power, multiply the exponents: (x^a)^b = x^(a×b).
Product Rule (Exponents)
When multiplying like bases, add the exponents: x^a × x^b = x^(a+b).
Quotient Rule (Exponents)
When dividing like bases, subtract the exponents: x^a / x^b = x^(a-b).
Negative Exponent
A negative exponent means reciprocal: x^(-n) = 1/x^n.
Radical (Square Root)
The √ symbol. √x is the non-negative number whose square is x.
Rational Exponent
A fractional exponent representing a root. x^(1/2) = √x, x^(1/3) = ∛x.
Rational Expression
A fraction where the numerator and/or denominator is a polynomial.
Polynomial
An expression with multiple terms, each a variable raised to a non-negative integer power with a coefficient.
Degree of a Polynomial
The highest power of the variable in the polynomial.
Function Notation
f(x) represents the output of a function for input x. Read as 'f of x.'
Domain (Function)
The set of all possible input values (x-values) for which a function is defined.
Range (Function)
The set of all possible output values (y-values) a function can produce.
Exponential Growth
Growth that increases by a constant factor each time period: y = a(b^x), where b > 1.
Exponential Decay
Decrease by a constant factor each time period: y = a(b^x), where 0 < b < 1.
Asymptote
A line a graph approaches but never touches. Horizontal asymptotes occur in exponential functions.
Problem Solving & Data Analysis
Ratio
A comparison of two quantities, often written as a:b or a/b.
Rate
A ratio comparing two quantities with different units, such as distance per time.
Unit Rate
A rate expressed per one unit of the denominator quantity.
Proportion
An equation stating two ratios are equal: a/b = c/d.
Cross-Multiplication
Solving a proportion by multiplying diagonally: if a/b = c/d, then a×d = b×c.
Percentage
A part per hundred. To convert a percent to a decimal, divide by 100.
Percent Change
The amount of change divided by the original amount, expressed as a percent.
Percent Increase/Decrease
Calculates the relative growth or decline from an original value to a new value.
Mean (Average)
The sum of all values divided by the number of values.
Median
The middle number in a sorted list. If even count, the average of the two middle numbers.
Mode
The number that appears most frequently in a data set.
Range (Statistics)
The difference between the maximum and minimum values in a data set.
Standard Deviation
A measure of how spread out numbers are from the mean. Low = clustered; high = spread out.
Outlier
A data point significantly different from the rest of the data, either much higher or lower.
Scatterplot
A graph showing individual data points on two axes, used to observe relationships between variables.
Line of Best Fit
A straight line that best represents the trend in a scatterplot of data points.
Correlation
A statistical relationship between two variables. Positive = both increase; negative = one increases as the other decreases.
Causation
When one event directly causes another. Correlation does not imply causation.
Probability
The likelihood of an event occurring, from 0 (impossible) to 1 (certain).
Independent Events
Events where the outcome of one does not affect the outcome of the other.
Dependent Events
Events where the outcome of one affects the probability of the other.
Conditional Probability
The probability of an event given that another event has already occurred.
Expected Value
The long-run average outcome of a random event, calculated by summing each outcome times its probability.
Margin of Error
The range above and below a sample statistic that likely contains the true population value.
Two-Way Table
A table organizing data by two categorical variables, used to analyze relationships.
Geometry & Trigonometry
Right Angle
An angle that measures exactly 90 degrees.
Complementary Angles
Two angles whose measures add up to 90 degrees.
Supplementary Angles
Two angles whose measures add up to 180 degrees.
Vertical Angles
Opposite angles formed by two intersecting lines. They are always equal.
Parallel Lines
Lines in the same plane that never intersect. They have the same slope.
Perpendicular Lines
Lines that intersect at a 90-degree angle. Their slopes are negative reciprocals.
Triangle
A polygon with three sides. The interior angles always sum to 180 degrees.
Right Triangle
A triangle with one 90-degree angle. The other two angles are acute and complementary.
Pythagorean Theorem
In a right triangle, the square of the hypotenuse equals the sum of the squares of the legs: a² + b² = c².
Hypotenuse
The longest side of a right triangle, always opposite the right angle.
Similar Triangles
Triangles with the same shape but different sizes. Their corresponding angles are equal and sides are proportional.
Congruent
Identical in shape and size. All corresponding sides and angles are equal.
Isosceles Triangle
A triangle with at least two equal sides. The angles opposite the equal sides are also equal.
Equilateral Triangle
A triangle with all three sides equal. All angles are 60 degrees.
Area of a Triangle
One-half times base times height: A = ½ × b × h.
Circle
The set of all points in a plane equidistant from a center point.
Radius
The distance from the center of a circle to any point on the circle.
Diameter
The distance across a circle through the center. It is twice the radius: d = 2r.
Circumference
The perimeter (distance around) a circle: C = 2πr or C = πd.
Area of a Circle
A = πr², where r is the radius.
Arc Length
The distance along the curved portion of a circle: (central angle / 360) × 2πr.
Sector Area
The area of a pie-slice portion of a circle: (central angle / 360) × πr².
Central Angle
An angle whose vertex is the center of a circle and whose sides are radii.
Tangent (Geometry)
A line that touches a circle at exactly one point. It is perpendicular to the radius at that point.
Pi (π)
The ratio of a circle's circumference to its diameter, approximately 3.14159.
Rectangle Area
Length times width: A = l × w.
Rectangle Perimeter
Twice the sum of length and width: P = 2(l + w).
Volume of a Rectangular Prism
Length times width times height: V = l × w × h.
Volume of a Cylinder
Base area times height: V = πr²h.
Volume of a Sphere
V = (4/3)πr³, where r is the radius.
SOHCAHTOA
A memory aid for right-triangle trig: Sine = Opposite/Hypotenuse, Cosine = Adjacent/Hypotenuse, Tangent = Opposite/Adjacent.
Sine (sin)
In a right triangle, the ratio of the opposite side to the hypotenuse.
Cosine (cos)
In a right triangle, the ratio of the adjacent side to the hypotenuse.
Tangent (Trigonometry)
In a right triangle, the ratio of the opposite side to the adjacent side.
Radian
An angle measure based on the radius of a circle. 2π radians = 360 degrees.
Special Right Triangle (30-60-90)
A right triangle with angles 30°, 60°, 90°. Side ratios are 1 : √3 : 2 (short leg : long leg : hypotenuse).
Special Right Triangle (45-45-90)
An isosceles right triangle with angles 45°, 45°, 90°. Side ratios are 1 : 1 : √2 (leg : leg : hypotenuse).
Pythagorean Triples
Sets of three integers that satisfy a² + b² = c². Common ones: 3-4-5, 5-12-13, 8-15-17.