7th Grade Math Vocabulary: A Guide for Students and Parents

How Can I Help My 7th Grader Learn Math Vocabulary?

Familiarity with vocabulary terms can make learning math easier. If students know math vocabulary, they will be more likely to understand what their teacher is talking about. Unlike vocabulary in language arts, students have probably never heard math vocabulary terms before and are unlikely to use them outside of math class. You can help your child learn math by helping him create a math dictionary in the back of his notebook. The definitions should be written in your child's own words and include examples.

Repetition is one of the key ways that students remember terms, so practice at home with flashcards before a test. Also, make sure your child has frequent exposure to these terms. For instance, encourage her to label the relevant terms while solving math problems. For the problem 5x=4, she can label the coefficient (which is 5 in this example), variable (x) and solution. This repeated practice will help your child learn math vocabulary words without spending a lot of extra time on review.

7th Grade Math Vocabulary

Pre-Algebra

Interest

The rate at which money increases over time. Interest can be calculated using I = Prt, in which P is the principal amount of money, r is the rate of annual interest and t is the time.

Irrational Numbers

Numbers that continue forever, but do not repeat. Pi (3.14159…) is an irrational number because there is no repeating pattern.

Rational Numbers

Numbers that can be divided or written as a fraction. This includes whole numbers, positive and negative numbers, fractions and repeating decimals. Examples include 1, -1, 1/3 and 0.5.

Geometry

Adjacent Angles

Angles that are side by side and share the same vertex. Examples include complementary angles and supplementary angles.

Complementary Angles

Two angles that add up to 90 degrees, also known as a right angle. Both are acute angles. For instance, a 35-degree angle and a 55-degree angle together are complementary.

Supplementary Angles

Two angles that add up to 180 degrees. One is obtuse and one is acute. For instance, a 50-degree angle and a 130-degree angle are supplementary. Two right angles (90 degrees) are also supplementary.