Glossary of Terms

common factor	An integer that will divide exactly (meaning there is no remainder) into two or more integers. Commonly used in simplifying fractions.
composite number	Any number that has more than itself and one as factors, i.e., is not a prime number.
denominator	Any integer b, except for zero, in a fraction written in the form a/b.
equivalent fractions	Fractions which have the same value.
factor	Any integer that can be divided exactly (meaning there is no remainder) into a given number.
factor tree	A visual representation used to show the prime factors of a number.
fraction	Representation of the quotient of two numbers, a and b, written in the form a/b where .
fraction bar	The line in a fraction that separates the numerator and denominator.
greatest common factor (GCF)	The largest integer factor that two or more numbers have in common. The GCF is most often used to simplify fractions.
integer	Positive and negative whole numbers.
least common denominator (LCD)	The least common multiple of the denominators of a group of fractions.
multiple	The result of multiplying a number by a whole number. For example, 40 is a multiple of 5, given 5 x 8= 40.
multiplier	An integer multiplied with both the numerator and denominator of a fraction.
numerator	Any integer a, in a fraction written in the form a/b
prime factor	Prime numbers that are factors of an integer.
prime factorization	An expansion of a product of primes, used to find common factors and to help simplify fractions.
prime number	A number that has only two factors, 1 and itself.
reciprocal	The multiplicative inverse of a given quatity. It is formed by dividing 1 by the given quantity. To find the reciprocal of a fraction, simply "flip it over."
simplified fraction	A fraction which has had all common factors of the numerator and denominator canceled.
inequality symbols	> greater than or equal to < less than or equal to > greater than < less than