Math RootsMath Roots

By Niki Tilicki

By Niki Tilicki

CIR

CU

MC

IRC

UM

Meaning – around

Meaning – aroundExample:Example:Circumference tells the

Circumference tells the

distance around a circle

distance around a circle

CEN

TI

CEN

TI Meaning – hundred

Meaning – hundredExample: One hundred

Example: One hundred

centimeters make up a

centimeters make up a

metermeter

Equi

Equi Meaning – equal

Meaning – equalExample: Equivalent –

Example: Equivalent –

this means that

this means that something either a term

something either a term

or a shape is equal

or a shape is equal

Hem

iH

em

iSem

i Sem

i

Meaning – half

Meaning – half

Example: a hemisphere

Example: a hemisphere

is half of a sphere. We

is half of a sphere. We

live in the Northern

live in the Northern hemisphere

hemisphere of the of the

Earth. Earth.

A semicircle is a half

A semicircle is a half

circle.circle.

Mill

i M

illi Meaning: Milli means

Meaning: Milli means

10001000

Example: a millisecond

Example: a millisecond

is 1/1000 of a second.

is 1/1000 of a second.

Poly

Poly

Meaning – many

Meaning – manyExample: a polygon is a

Example: a polygon is a

figure with many sides.

figure with many sides.

A polynomial is an term

A polynomial is an term

in math used when there

in math used when there

are more than one part.

are more than one part.

Uni

Uni

Mono

Mono

Meaning: One

Meaning: OneExample: If you practice,

Example: If you practice,

you can ride a unicycle –

you can ride a unicycle –

a one wheeled bike

a one wheeled bikeMono-vision contacts

Mono-vision contacts

allow you to see out of

allow you to see out of

one eye and read out of

one eye and read out of

the other. (A monomial

the other. (A monomial

would be a term with

would be a term with

one kind…)one kind…)

BI

BI

DI

DI

DU

OD

UO

Meaning: Two

Meaning: Two

Example: A bicycle has 2

Example: A bicycle has 2

wheels. When you

wheels. When you dissect an angle, you

dissect an angle, you

break it into two parts.

break it into two parts.

A terrific duo would have

A terrific duo would have

two parts.two parts.

Tri

Tri

Meaning: Three

Meaning: ThreeExample: A triangle has

Example: A triangle has

3 sides. 3 sides.

Quad

Quad

Tetr

a

Tetr

a

Meaning: four

Meaning: four

Example: Example: A quadrilateral is a

A quadrilateral is a shape with 4 sides

shape with 4 sidesTetra is the Greek term

Tetra is the Greek term

for four.for four.

Qunit

Qunit

Pent

Pent

Meaning – 5Meaning – 5

Example: Example: When quintuplets are

When quintuplets are

born, there are 5 babies.

born, there are 5 babies. A pentagon has 5 sides.

A pentagon has 5 sides.

Hex

Hex Meaning – 6

Meaning – 6

Example:Example:A hexagon has six sides

A hexagon has six sides

Sept

Sept

Hept

Hept

Meaning: 7Meaning: 7

Example: Example: A heptagon has seven

A heptagon has seven

sidessidesa heptachord is a seven-

a heptachord is a seven-

stringed musical

stringed musical instrumentinstrumentA septennium is a period

A septennium is a period

of seven years

of seven years

Oct

Oct

Meaning – 8Meaning – 8

Example: An octogon

Example: An octogon

has 8 sides and an

has 8 sides and an octopus has 8 legs.

octopus has 8 legs.

Non

Non

Meaning – 9Meaning – 9

Example:Example:A nonagon has nine

A nonagon has nine sidessides

Dec

Dec

Meaning: 10

Meaning: 10

Example: A decimeter is

Example: A decimeter is

10 centimeters

10 centimetersA decagon has 10 sides

A decagon has 10 sidesDecember used to be

December used to be

the 10the 10 thth month and then

month and then

the Greeks changed

the Greeks changed this…this…

Lat

Lat

Meaning: Side

Meaning: Side

Example: When

Example: When something is bilateral, it

something is bilateral, it

has 2 sides.

has 2 sides.

Word

s th

at

use

Word

s th

at

use

ro

ots

ro

ots

The following slides

The following slides have math vocabulary

have math vocabulary

that use roots.

that use roots.

Exp

onent

Exp

onent

Meaning: Placed out

Meaning: Placed outEx – out Pon – Placed

Ex – out Pon – PlacedExample: When we use

Example: When we use

an exponent we bring a

an exponent we bring a

number to a new level

number to a new level

10 to the second power

10 to the second power

is 100…is 100…

Fract

ion

Fract

ion Meaning: The latin term

Meaning: The latin term

fractus meaning broken

fractus meaning brokenExample: A fraction is a

Example: A fraction is a

part of a whole.

part of a whole.

Geom

etr

yG

eom

etr

y Meaning: Geo – Earth

Meaning: Geo – Earth

Metro – measure

Metro – measureExample: Geometry is

Example: Geometry is

the way we measure

the way we measure

things on earth – shapes

things on earth – shapes

etc.etc.

Perc

ent

Perc

ent Meaning: By the

Meaning: By the hundredhundred

Per – by Cent – hundred

Per – by Cent – hundredExample: all percents

Example: all percents

come from 100.

come from 100.

Zero

Z

ero

Meaning – Empty

Meaning – EmptyExample: When you

Example: When you have nothing – you

have nothing – you could be empty…

could be empty…