Study toolsMath glossary

Math glossary & tables

Five problem-type and properties tables for grades 6–8, plus a short list of terms we use in StudyQuest. Wording and examples are ours. The table structure follows the Common Core State Standards mathematics glossary.

Official source: CCSS mathematics glossary. © National Governors Association Center for Best Practices and Council of Chief State School Officers.

Table

Official Table 1

Table 1. Addition and subtraction situations

Most add/subtract word problems are one of these story shapes. Name the shape, then decide which quantity is missing.

Addition and subtraction situations: family, unknown, equation, and example
Family	Unknown	Equation	Example	Practice
Add to	Result	$8 + 5 = ?$	You have 8 markers and get 5 more. How many markers now?	Topic
Add to	Change	$8 + ? = 13$	You have 8 markers and need 13. How many more do you still need?	Topic
Add to	Start	$? + 5 = 13$	You got 5 more markers and now have 13. How many did you start with?	Topic
Take from	Result	$13 - 5 = ?$	You have 13 grapes and eat 5. How many are left?	Topic
Take from	Change	$13 - ? = 8$	You started with 13 grapes and have 8 left. How many did you eat?	Topic
Take from	Start	$? - 5 = 8$	You ate 5 grapes and have 8 left. How many did you start with?	Topic
Put together / take apart	Total	$8 + 5 = ?$	A box has 8 red pencils and 5 blue pencils. How many pencils in all?	Topic
Put together / take apart	Addend	$8 + ? = 13$	13 pencils: 8 are red. How many are not red?	Topic
Compare	Difference	$13 - 8 = ?$	Maya has 13 stickers and Jordan has 8. How many more does Maya have?	Topic
Compare	Bigger amount	$8 + 5 = ?$	Jordan has 8 stickers. Maya has 5 more than Jordan. How many does Maya have?	Topic
Compare	Smaller amount	$13 - 5 = ?$	Maya has 13 stickers, 5 more than Jordan. How many does Jordan have?	Topic

High-value terms

Short StudyQuest definitions, not the official glossary dictionary. For every concept that appears in a journey, use the main glossary.

Absolute value
Distance from zero on the number line. Always zero or positive: $|-7| = 7$ .
Open related topic
Coefficient
The number multiplied by a variable. In $3x + 2$ , the coefficient of $x$ is 3.
Open related topic
Equation
A statement that two expressions are equal, using $=$ . Solving means finding the value that makes it true.
Open related topic
Expression
A combination of numbers, variables, and operations with no equals sign, such as $4n + 1$ .
Open related topic
Function
A rule that assigns exactly one output to each input. Tables, graphs, and $y = mx + b$ can all show functions.
Open related topic
Inequality
A comparison that is not exact equality: $<$ , $>$ , $\leq$ , or $\geq$ . Solutions are often a range of numbers.
Open related topic
Integer
Whole numbers and their opposites, including zero: $\ldots, -2, -1, 0, 1, 2, \ldots$
Open related topic
Ratio
A comparison of two quantities, often written $a:b$ or as a fraction. A unit rate is a ratio with a denominator of 1.
Open related topic
Rational number
A number that can be written as a fraction of integers with a nonzero denominator, including decimals that terminate or repeat.
Open related topic
Slope
Steepness of a line: rise over run, or $\frac{y_2 - y_1}{x_2 - x_1}$ when the run is not zero.
Open related topic
Variable
A letter that stands for a number that can change, or for an unknown you are solving for.
Open related topic

About the math glossary

This reference organizes the Common Core Math Glossary’s five tables—story types for the four operations, then properties of operations, equality, and inequality—in StudyQuest language with classroom examples.

It is a parent and teacher lookup, not a copy of the official glossary text. Use it to name a word-problem type, justify a solve step, then jump into the matching grade 6–8 topic journey.