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Patterns. Recognizable regularities in situations such
as in nature, shapes, events, sets of numbers. For example, spirals
on a pineapple, snowflakes, geometric designs on quilts or wallpaper,
the number sequence {0, 4, 8, 12, 16,...}.
Percentile. A value on a scale that indicates the percent
of a distribution that is equal to it or below it. For example,
a score at the 95th percentile is equal to or better than 95 percent
of the scores.
Permutations. Possible arrangements of a set of objects
in which the order of the arrangement makes a difference. For
example, determining all the different ways five books can be
arranged in order on a shelf.
Prime number. A whole number greater than 1 that can be
divided exactly (i.e., with no remainder) only by itself and 1.
The first few primes are 2, 3, 5, 7, 11, 13, 17, 19, 23, 29, 31,
37.
Pythagorean theorem (relationship). In a right triangle,
c2 = a2 + b2 , where c represents the length of the hypotenuse
(the longest side of the triangle which is opposite the right
angle), and a and b represent the lengths of the other two, shorter
sides of the triangle.
Quadratic function. A function that can be represented
by an equation of the form y = ax2 + bx + c, where a, b, and c
are arbitrary, but fixed, numbers and a 0. The graph of this
function is a parabola.
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