The Wonder Number Learning System

Addends – numbers that are added to get a sum. In 2 + 3 = 5, 2 and 3 are the addends.

Addition – the operation of combining two or more addends into one sum, using the + symbol. 1 + 2 = 3.

Area – the measure of a two-dimensional surface. A rectangle that is 3 inches long by 2 inches wide has an area of 6 square inches. 2 x 3 = 6 square inches.

Array – an arrangement of chips in a geometric pattern, like a rectangle or a square.

Commutative property of addition – the order in which two or more addends are added does not change the sum. 2 + 3 = 5 and 3 + 2 = 5.

Commutative property of multiplication – the order in which two or more factors are multiplied does not change the product. 3 x 4 = 12 and 4 x 3 = 12.

Composite number – a whole number with more than two factors. 1, 3 and 9 are all the factors of nine. 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, and 12 are all the factors of twelve.

Denominator – the number below the fraction bar in a fraction which indicates how many parts there are in the whole or set. In 1/2, 2 is the denominator.

Difference – the answer in a subtraction problem. 12 – 3 = 9. 9 is the difference.

Dividend – the number being divided. 20 divided by 5 = 4. 20 is the dividend.

Division – the operation which separates a group into parts. 8 divided by 4 = 2.

Divisor – the number by which another number is divided. 35 divided by 5 = 7. 5 is the divisor.

Even Number – any number that is divisible by two with 0 remaining. On the Wonder Number Board all even number blocks contain a Blue 2.

Factor – any of the numbers multiplied to form a product. 6 x 5 = 30. 6 and 5 are factors.

Fraction – a ratio of two numbers, usually written as a/b: part of a whole. 2/3, 4/5.

Greatest Common Factor – (GCF) – the greatest number that is a factor of each of two or more numbers. 6 is the GCF of 42 and 48.

Integer – a positive or negative whole number such as 1, 2, 3, etc.

Least Common Denominator – (LCD) – is the least common multiple of the denominators of two or more fractions. 20 is the LCD of 4 and 5.

Lowest terms – a common fraction is in its lowest terms if the numerator and the denominator share no common factor other than 1.

Minuend – is a number from which another number is to be subtracted. In the problem 20 - 5, 20 is the minuend.

Multiple – a multiple of a number is the product of that number and another number. 6 x 5 = 30, 30 is the multiple of 6 and 5.

Multiplication – an operation simplifying addition so that instead of writing 3 + 3 + 3 + 3 you write 3 x 4 = 12.

Numerator – the top number in a fraction which indicates how many fractional parts in a whole or set have been counted. In 1/2, 1 is the numerator.

Odd Number – any number divided by 2 which leaves a remainder of 1. Odd numbers have no Blue 2 in their block. Odd numbers have 1, 3, 5, 7, or 9 in the ones place.

Prime – a number divisible only by one and itself. Prime numbers are circled on the Wonder Number Board.

Product – the answer obtained when multiplying two numbers together. In 2 x 4 = 8, the product is 8.

Quadrant – one of four sections of a rectangular coordinate plane – one fourth of the Wonder Number Board.

Quotient – the answer in a division problem. 18 divided by 6 = 3. 3 is the quotient.

Square – a rectangle having all four sides of equal length.

Square Number – a number that is the product of a number multiplied by itself. 4 x 4 = 16. 16 is the square and 4 is the square root. Square numbers are identified on the Wonder Number Board with a square, which is the same color as the square root.

Square Root – of a number is one of two equal factors of that number. The square root of 4 is 2 because 2 x 2 = 4.

Subtraction – the operation of finding the difference between two numbers using the minus sign. 5 – 3 = 2.

Subtrahend – the number that is to be subtracted from the minuend. In the problem 17 - 8, 8 is the subtrahend.

Sum – the answer to an addition problem. In 4 + 3 = 7, the sum is 7.