Algebra I Glossary

a method of solving a system of equations by adding or subtracting equations in order to eliminate a common variable

having the same likelihood of occurring, such that in a large number of trials, two equally likely outcomes would happen roughly the same number of times

a statement that describes the equality of two expressions by connecting them with an equals sign

a collection of possible outcomes, often describable using a common characteristic, such as rolling an even number with a die or picking a card from a specific suit

the set of possible outcomes in an event: for example, the event “rolling an even number” on a die has the event space of 2, 4, and 6

a situation that suggests a logical statement may be true

a value for a variable that is not allowed in an expression, such as a variable in a rational expression that would make the denominator equal zero

the value that indicates the number of times another value is multiplied by itself in exponential notation. The exponent, also called the power, is written in superscript. In the term 53, 5 is the base and 3 is the exponent.

a nonlinear function in which the independent value is an exponent in the function, as in y = abx

a condensed way of expressing repeated multiplication of a value by itself. Exponential notation consists of a base and an exponent. In the exponential term 53, 5 is the base and 3 is the exponent. This is a shorthand way of writing 5 • 5 • 5. Also called exponential form.