Glossary

The chances are that if you are struggling with particular words/phrases, then so are others. Add any you can think of to the Comments section on the following page so we can help each other. I will add them here, with explanations for you all.

A

Arrays

Arrays are a visual representation of a multiplication or division sum. For example, 2 x 5 can be shown in the following array with counters or dots drawn on paper:

OR

This can be used to solve the following sums: 5 x 2 = ?, 2 x 5 = ?, 10 ÷ 2 = ? or 10 ÷ 5 = ?

C

Capacity 

This is referring to measures of fluids, e.g. millilitres, litres, pints, gallons, etc. 

F

Four Operations

The four operations are: addition, subtraction, multiplication and division. 

I

Integer 

See Whole Number.

M

Mass 

This is referring to measures of weights, e.g. grams, kilograms, pounds, ounces, etc. 

Missing Number Sentences

A number sentence that has the answer, but one of the numbers used to get the answer is missing, e.g:

OR

Multiple 

The answer when numbers are multiplied together, e.g. 2, 4, 6 and 8 are all multiples of 2. 

All the answers in the times tables are multiples.

Multi-Step Problems

A problem or puzzle that needs two or more calculations to find the answer. For example: If a book priced £4.99 was reduced in a sale by 10%, how much change would you get from £10?

Step One: 10% of £4.99 = £0.49

Step Two: £4.99 - £0.49 = £4.50

Step Three: £10.00 - £4.50 = £5.50

N

Number Bonds 

A number bond is a pair of numbers that add up to the number you are given. For example, Number Bonds to 10 are 1 + 9, 2 + 8, 3 + 7, and so on. 

Number Families

A group of numbers that can be added or subtracted. The numbers used do not change, but the order they are used in does. Examples of number families are:

3 + 7 = 10

7 + 3 = 10

10 – 3 = 7

10 – 7 = 3

OR

2 x 3 = 6

3 x 2 = 6

6 ÷ 2 = 3

6 ÷ 3 = 2

Number Line 

Lines showing numbers at regular intervals, which can be used to count up on for addition or back on for subtraction: 

To work out the sum 2 + 3, your child identifies 2 on the number line and then counts up 3. The number they 'land' on will be the answer.

Number Sentences

A number sentence is an equation written in numbers. Each of the following are examples of number sentences:

2 + 4 = 6

10 – 3 = 7

3 x 2 = 6

12 ÷ 3 = 4

O

Operations 

The four operations are: addition, subtraction, multiplication and division. 

One-Step Problem

A problem or puzzle that only needs one calculation to find the answer, e.g. If Leah and James had 3 marbles each, how many marbles do they have altogether?

See also: Two-Step Problems and Multi-Step Problems.

P

Pictogram

A chart that represents numbers with pictures. For example, one 🙂 could represent 4 people, so this means

represents 4 + 4 + 4, which is 12 people.

Sometimes half of the symbol is shown. In this case it will represent half of 4, which is 2, so:

represents 4 + 4 + 4 + 2, which is 14 people.

Place Value 

This is the value of each digit in a number. For example, the following picture shows the number 435:

4 is in the hundreds place, so has a value of 400, which can also be written as 4 hundreds.

3 is in the tens place, so has a value of 30, which can also be written as 3 tens.

5 is in the units place, so has a value of 5, which can also be written as 5 units (or ones).

The following picture shows the place values of a number with a decimal point (72.34):

7 is in the tens place, so has a value of 70 (or 7 tens)

2 is in the units place, so has a value of 2 (or 2 units)

3 is in the tenths place, so has a value of 3 tenths, which can be written as ³/₁₀ 

4 is in the hundredths place, so can be written as ⁴/₁₀₀

The following is a blank 'Place Value Grid' that children can write numbers in to help decide their value. Please feel free to download and use if you think it will help your child.

T

Two-Step Problems

A problem or puzzle that needs two calculations to find the answer. For example, if Joe bought a ball for £1.50 and a drink for £1.00, how much change would he get if he paid with a £5 note?

Step One: £1.50 + £1.00 = £2.50

Step Two: £5.00 - £2.50 = £2.50

W

Whole Number 

A complete number that is greater than zero, i.e. 1, 2, 3, 4 and so on. 

It is not a negative number or a fraction. 

They are sometimes referred to as an 'integer'. 

Maths Symbols

> is 'more than' or 'greater than'

< is 'less than' or 'fewer than'

Get  your child to imagine the sign as the mouth of a crocodile and tell them the crocodile always 'eats' the bigger number. They may be familiar with this from school and this will help them get it the right way round.