Mathematics is the science of numbers as Aristotle defined. Here we have collected all the important mathematics definitions. Browse these definitions or use the Search function for a specific definition.

Math Definitions

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There are currently 9 definitions in this directory beginning with the letter N.
Nano-
A prefix meaning one-billionth (1/1,000,000,000 or 10-9)

Examples:
• a nanometer is one-billionth of a meter, about the width of DNA (illustrated here)
• a nanosecond is one-billionth of a second

Symbol is n

Example: 12 ns = 12 nanoseconds = 12 billionths of a second (0.000000012 s)

Natural Number
The whole numbers from 1 upwards: 1, 2, 3, and so on ...

Or from 0 upwards in some fields of mathematics: 0, 1, 2, 3 and so on ...

No negative numbers and no fractions.

Negative
Less than zero.


(Positive means more than zero. Zero is neither negative nor positive.)

A negative number is written with a minus sign in front

Example: −5 is negative five.

The word "negative" can be shortened to "−ve"

Net Income
Income after tax and expenses.


For a business: total sales minus all expenses including tax.

Example: Bravedog Inc sells $400,000 of dog biscuits, spending $180,000 making them. Marketing and other costs and tax are $100,000. Bravedog's gross income is $220,000 and its net income is $120,000.

Nominal Number
A number used only as a name, or to identify something (not as an actual value or position)

Examples:
· the number on the back of a footballer: "8"
· a zip code: "91210"
· a model number: "380"
· etc

Normal
At right angles to, going directly away from.

For a curve imagine a line just touching and matching the slope there (called a "tangent") and draw a line at right angles to it.

Example: a circle's diameter is always normal to its circumference

Number
A number is a count or measurement.

They are really an idea in our minds. We write or talk about numbers using numerals such as "5" or "five". We could also hold up 5 fingers, or tap the table 5 times. These are all different ways of referring to the same number.

There are also different types of numbers, such as
• whole numbers {1,2,3,...}
• decimals (like 1.48 or 50.5)
• fractions (like 1/2 or 3/8)
• and more.

Number Sense
A person's ability to use and understand numbers:

· knowing their relative values,
· how to use them to make judgments,
· how to use them in flexible ways when adding, subtracting, multiplying or dividing
· how to develop useful strategies when counting, measuring or estimating.

Numeral
A symbol or name that stands for a number.

Examples: 3, 49 and twelve are all numerals

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