calculate: To compute or simplify.
calculator: A machine used for computation.
calculus: The branch of mathematics involving derivatives and integrals. The study of motion in which changing values are studied.
capacity: The amount a container holds.
cardinal number: A whole number, used to answer the question "how many?"
Cartesian coordinates: A system in which points on a plane are identified by an ordered pair of numbers, representing the distances to two or three perpendicular axes.
cation: An ion with more protons than electrons.
Celsius: A temperature scale in which water freezes at  and boils at 
census: Information gathered from all people in a population.
centi-: In the metric system, a prefix meaning hundredth.
central angle: An angle that has its vertex at the center of a circle.
center of rotation: The point around which an object is rotated.
Chain Rule: A formula for the derivative of the composite of two functions: SMB04SMB01fSMB04SMB15oSMB15g*gSMB04SMB02cSMB03?p=131?p=22)
chemical element: A pure chemical substance consisting of one type of atom distinguished by its atomic number, which is the number of protons in its nucleus.
chemical reaction: A process that leads to the transformation of one set of chemical substances to another.
chord: A line segment that connects two points on a curve.
circle: The set of points in a plane that are a fixed distance from a given point, called the center.
circle graph: A pictorial way of displaying how an entire thing, represented by the circle's interior, is distributed.
circumference: The distance around a circle.
closed curve: A string of connected points in which the beginning of the string joins the end of the string.
coefficient: A constant that multiplies a variable.
collinear: Points are collinear if they lie on the same line.
combination: A selection in which order has no importance.
combine: To join, or bring together.
combined gas law: A gas law which combines Charles's law, Boyle's law, and Gay-Lussac's law.
commission: Earnings based on the amount of total sales.
common denominator: A denominator shared by two or more fractions.
common factor: A factor of two or more numbers.
common multiple: A multiple of two or more numbers.
commutative property: The order of numbers in a calculation does not affect the result.
commutative property of addition: a+b=b+a
commutative property of multiplication: 
compass: An instrument used for drawing circles, describing circles, or measuring distances. Consists of two hinged, movable legs.
compatible numbers: Numbers that are easy to manipulate mentally. Example:  , 8+2
compensation: Adjusting an estimated answer up or down to more closely approximate the value.
complement: The difference between a right angle and the angle.
complementary angles: Two angles whose sum is 
complement set: A set whose elements do not belong to a given set.
complex numbers: Numbers that have the form a+bi where a and b are real numbers and i satisfies the equation 
composite: A natural number that is not prime.
compound bar graph: A bar graph that compares two or more quantities simultaneously.
compound event: The outcome of a probability experiment that involves more than one object. Example: when you roll two dice and the result is a 5 on one and a 2 on the other, this is a compound event.
compound inequality: Two or more inequalities that may have a common solution.
concave polygon: A polygon with at least one interior angle with measure greater than 
concentration: The measure of how much of a given substance there is mixed with another substance.
concentric: With reference to circles, having the same center.
cone: A three-dimensional figure with a circular base and one vertex.
congruent: Angles or figures that have the same size and shape.
conic section: The section formed by the intersection of a plane and a cone.
conjecture: An educated guess.
consecutive: Following, in succession, without interruption.
consistent system: A system of equations that has at least one solution.
constant: A fixed value that does not change.
convex polygon: A polygon with each interior angle measuring less than
coordinate: A number in an ordered pair that names the location of a point on the coordinate plane. The first number in the ordered pair is called the abscissa and the second number is the ordinate.
coordinate plane: The plane determined by a horizontal number line, called the x-axis, and a vertical number line, called the y-axis, intersecting at a point called the origin. Each point in the coordinate plane can be specified by an ordered pair of numbers.
coplanar: Points that lie within the same plane.
correlation: A type of relationship between two variables. Two variables may be related as a positive correlation, a negative correlation, or illustrate no correlation.
corresponding angles: Angles that have the same relative positions.
cosecant: In a right triangle, the ratio of the length of the hypotenuse to the length of the opposite side; the reciprocal of the sine.
cosine: In a right triangle, the ratio of the length of the adjacent side to the length of the hypotenuse.
cotangent: In a right triangle, the ratio of the length of the adjacent side to the length of the opposite side; the reciprocal of the tangent.
counting numbers: The natural numbers, or the numbers used to count.
counting principle: If a first event has n outcomes and a second event has m outcomes, then the first event followed by the second event has n times m outcomes.
Cramer's Rule: A theorem in linear algebra, which gives the solution of a system of linear equations in terms of determinants.
cross multiply: In a proportion, to rewrite the equation so that the product of the means equals the product of the extremes.
cross product: A product found by multiplying the numerator of one fraction by the denominator of another fraction and the denominator of the first fraction by the numerator of the second.
cube: A solid figure with six square faces.
cube root: A number that when cubed (taken to the power of 3 ) gives the original number.
cubic: Having the shape of a cube. When referring to volume, describing in terms of the volume of a cube with the indicated length edge.
curve: The graphic representation of an algebraic equation; a connected set of points.
cylinder: A three-dimensional figure having two parallel bases that are congruent circles.
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