Fourth Grade CCSS Math Vocabulary Word List
*Terms with an asterisk are meant for teacher knowledge only—students
need to learn the concept but not necessarily the term.
Acute angle The measure of an angle with a measure between 0° and 90°
Add To combine; put together two or more quantities
Addend Any number being added
*Additive comparison a situation that compares by asking or telling how much
more (how much less) one amount is than another.
Algorithm set of steps used to solve a mathematical computation
Angle is formed by two rays with a common endpoint (called the vertex).
Angle measure The size of an angle is measured in degrees
Arc a curved line that is a part of a circle
Area The number of square units that covers a shape or figure
Area model a pictorial way of representing multiplication. In the area model, the
length and width of a rectangle represent factors, and the area of the rectangle
represents their product.
Array an orderly arrangement in rows and columns used in multiplication and
division to show how multiplication can be shown as repeated addition and
division can be shown as fair shares.
*Associative Property of Addition When three or more numbers are added, the
sum is the same regardless of the grouping of the addends. For example (2 + 3) + 4
= 2 + (3 + 4)
*Associative Property of Multiplication When three or more numbers are
multiplied, the product is the same regardless of the grouping of the factors. For
example (2 x 3) x 4 = 2 x (3 x 4)
Attribute A characteristic of an object such as color, shape, size, etc
Bar M
o
check.
Bench
m
against
Capaci
Centi
m
Classif
y
Comm
o
fractio
n
*Com
m
the sa
m
*Com
m
the pro
d
x 4
Comp
a
numbe
r
Comp
Used t
o
used t
o
repres
e
o
del a vis
u
Example:
m
ark frac
t
the am
o
m
eter A m
y
to sort s
h
o
n denom
i
n
s
m
utative
P
m
e regardle
s
m
utative
P
d
uct is the
a
re To de
c
r
. Can als
o
arison ba
r
o
represen
o
represen
t
e
nt each n
u
u
al model
u
t
ions co
m
o
unt of liq
u
e
asure of
l
h
apes acc
o
i
nator A
c
P
ropert
y
o
f
s
s of the o
r
P
ropert
y
o
f
same rega
r
c
ide if one
o
be used t
o
r
s
t
larger an
d
t
all four o
p
u
mber.
u
sed to so
l
m
mon fract
i
u
id a cont
a
l
ength. Th
e
o
rding to t
h
c
ommon
m
f
Additio
n
r
der of the
f
Multipli
c
r
dless of t
h
number is
o
tell how
d
smaller
a
p
erations.
D
l
ve word
p
i
ons that y
o
a
iner can
h
e
re are 10
0
h
e definiti
o
m
ultiple o
f
n
When t
w
addends.
F
c
ation W
h
h
e order o
f
greater th
a
shapes ar
e
a
mounts i
n
D
ifferent
l
p
roblems i
n
o
u can jud
h
old
0
centimet
e
o
ns of vari
f
the deno
m
w
o numbe
r
F
or exam
p
h
en two n
u
f
the facto
r
a
n, less th
a
e
alike or
d
n
a compa
r
l
engths of
b
n
the place
d
ge other n
u
e
rs in a m
e
ous terms
m
inators o
f
r
s are adde
d
p
le 4 + 2 =
u
mbers ar
e
r
s. For exa
m
a
n, or equ
a
d
ifferent.
r
ison situa
t
b
ars are d
r
of guess
a
u
mbers
e
ter
f
two or m
o
d
, the su
m
2 + 4
e
multiplie
d
m
ple 4 x
2
a
l to anoth
e
t
ion. Can
b
r
awn to
a
nd
o
re
m
is
d
,
2
= 2
e
r
b
e
Compose To put together basic elements. (e.g., Numbers or geometric shapes.)
Composite number numbers which are divisible by another number other than 1
and the number.
Congruent Figures or angles that have the same size and shape
Cup a customary unit of measurement for volume equal to 8 fluid ounces
Customary system the United States standard system of measurement
Data A collection of information
Decimal the expression of a fraction in the base of ten, using a decimal point to
separate whole numbers from the fractional value
Decimal fraction a fraction in which the denominator is a power of ten
Decimal notation a number containing a decimal point
Decimal point a printed or written dot in a decimal number that divides the whole
numbers from the tenths, hundredths, and smaller divisions of ten
Decompose To separate into basic elements. (e.g., Numbers or geometric shapes.)
Degree (angle measure) the basic unit for measuring the size of an angle.
Denominator The bottom part of a fraction.
Digit Any of the symbols 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, or 9.
Difference The result when one number is subtracted from another
*Distributive Property multiply a sum by multiplying each addend separately
and then add the products. Example:
4 x 53
(4 x 50) + (4 x 3)
200 + 12
212
Divide split into equal parts or groups
Dividend The number that is divided by another number in a division operation
Divisor The quantity by which another quantity is to be divided
Endpoint a point at which a line segment or a ray ends
Equal Having the same amount. (e.g., 4 equals 3 + 1 means that 4 is the same
amount as 3 + 1.)
Equation A number sentence with an equal sign. The amount on one side of the
equal sign has the same value as the amount on the other side.
Equivalent fractions different fractions that name the same number or amount
Estimate A close guess of the actual value, usually with some thought or
calculation involved
Evaluate To substitute number values into an expression
Expanded form a way to write a number that shows the sum of values of each
digit of a number. Example: the expanded form of the number 543 would be 500
+ 40 + 3.
Expression A mathematical phrase without an equal sign.
Factor One of two or more expressions that are multiplied together to get a
product
Factor pairs A set of two whole numbers when multiplied that will result in a
given product. For example, the factor pairs for 6 are (2,3) and (1,6)
*Fluency efficient, flexible and accurate methods for computing
Foot 12 inches
Formula a standard procedure for solving a class of mathematical problems
Fraction two quantities written one above the other, that shows how much of a
whole is shown
Friendly or Nice numbers numbers that end in 0 or 5 and help with mental math
Function table displays the relationship between the inputs and outputs of a
specified function.
Gallon A unit of volume in the U.S. Customary System, used in liquid measure,
equal to 4 quarts
Gram A metric unit of mass (weight). 1,000 grams = 1 kilogram
>Greater than is used to compare two numbers when the first number is larger
than the second number
Hour a period of 30 minutes
Hundredth One out of one hundred equal parts; the position of the second digit to
the right of the decimal point
*Identity Property of Addition The sum of any number and 0 is that number.
*Identity Property of Multiplication The product of 1 and any number is that
number
Improper fraction a fraction in which the number in the numerator is greater
than or equal to the number in the denominator.
Inch a measure of length. There are 12 inches in a foot
Intersecting lines Where lines cross over and have one common point
Inverse operations Two operations that have the opposite effect, such as addition
and subtraction.
Kilogram a unit of mass in the metric system. 1,000 grams = one kilogram
Kilometer a unit of length in the metric system. 1,000 meters = 1 kilometer
<Less than is used to compare two numbers when the first number is
smaller than the second number
Like denominators denominators in two or more fractions that are the same
Line In geometry a line is straight (no curves); has no thickness, and extends in both
directions without end
Line of symmetry a line that divides a figure into two congruent parts, each of
which is the mirror image of the other
Line plot shows data on a number line with x or other marks to show frequency
Line segment Two points on a line, and all the points between those two points
Line symmetric figures a figure whose that can be folded in half so that the two
parts match exactly
Liter the basic unit of volume or capacity in the metric system
Lowest terms a fraction expressed in the fewest number of pieces possible (also
simplest form)
Mass the quantity of matter in an object
Meter The basic unit of length (or distance) in the Metric System. The abbreviation
is m
Metric system A system of measuring based on the meter for length
Mile a customary unit used for measuring length or distance
Milliliter a metric unit used to measure volume or capacity; 1,000 ml = 1 liter
Millimeter a metric unit used to measure length; 1,000 mm = 1 meter
Minute A period of 60 seconds
Mixed number A number that is the sum of a whole number and a proper fraction
Multiple the product of that number and any other whole number. Zero is a multiple
of ever
y
*Multi
p
many ti
Multip
l
Numb
e
combin
Numb
e
Numer
Obtus
e
Open
N
*Orde
r
perfor
m
y
number
p
licative
c
mes more
ly
to find
e
r bond a
e to make
e
r line A l
ator The
t
e
an
g
le A
n
N
umber L
i
r
of Oper
a
m
ed fi
r
st in
c
ompariso
(how ma
n
the produ
c
picture of
it. Exam
p
ine with n
u
t
op part o
f
n
angle be
t
i
ne A nu
m
a
tions is a
a given
m
n a situat
i
n
y times le
s
c
t of by m
u
the relatio
p
les:
u
mbers pl
a
f
a fractio
n
t
ween (bu
t
m
ber line
w
rule used
t
m
athematic
a
i
on that co
m
s
s) one am
u
ltiplicatio
n
nship bet
w
a
ced in th
e
t
not inclu
d
w
ith no nu
m
t
o clarify
w
a
l expressi
m
pares b
y
m
ount is th
a
n
w
een a nu
m
e
ir correct
p
d
ing) 90 d
e
m
bers or t
i
w
hich pro
c
i
on.
y
asking or
a
n another.
m
ber and t
h
p
osition
e
g and 18
0
i
ck marks
c
edures sh
o
telling ho
w
h
e parts th
a
0
deg.
o
uld be
w
a
t
Ounce a customary unit of weight; 16 oz. = 1 pound
Parallel lines distinct lines lying in the same plane and they never intersect each
other
Parentheses the symbols ( and ) used in grouping
Pattern a set of numbers or objects in which all the members are related with each
other by a specific rule
Perimeter The sum of the lengths of the sides of a polygon.
Period groups of three digits in large numbers that help determine place value
Perpendicular lines Two intersecting lines have four right angles formed at the
intersection points
Pint A unit of volume or capacity in the U.S. Customary System, used in liquid
measure, equal to 16 ounces
Place value The value of where the digit is in the number
Plane figure a 2-dimensional shape
Point A location in a plane or in space, having no dimensions
Pound a customary unit of weight equal to 16 ounces
Prime number a positive whole number with exactly two factors, which are one
and itself
Product The result of two numbers being multiplied together
Protractor a tool used to measure the angles
Quart customary unit for measuring capacity or volume equal to two pints
Ray a part of a line that begins at a particular point (called the endpoint) and
extends endlessly in one direction
Reasonableness an answer based on good number sense
Related facts addition and/or subtraction number sentences that are alike in some
way
Remainder the amount left over after division when one divisor does not divide
the dividend exactly
Right angle one whose measure is exactly 90 degrees
Right triangle a triangle with one right angle
Round a whole number A method of approximating a number to its nearest place
value
Second an interval of time that is one sixtieth of a minute
Sequence an ordered list of numbers that has a constant difference between every
two consecutive numbers
Simplest form when a fraction is expressed with the fewest number of pieces
possible (also lowest term)
Simplify to express a fraction in simplest form
Square unit a unit of measurement that determines the area of a plane figure
Standard form the numerical version of a number where each number has a place
value
Subtract Take away; remove; compare
Sum The answer to an addition problem
Tenth One out of one ten equal parts; the position of the first digit to the right of
the decimal point
Time interval Duration of a segment of time
Two-dimensional Lying in a plane; flat
Unit fraction a fraction with a numerator of one
Unlike denominators two or more fractions that do not have the same
denominator
Variable a value that may change within the scope of a given problem or set of
operations
Vertex A corner of a figure. (plural - vertices)
Volume (liquid) a measurement of capacity
Whole numbers The set of numbers that includes zero and all of the natural
numbers
Word form A way to write the number using words. Example: The word form
of the number 9,325 is nine thousand, three hundred twenty-five.
Yard a customary unit of length equal to three feet
*Zero Property of Multiplication The product of zero and any number is zero