Practice Science and Math Vocabulary: Vocabulary Unit 8.
This unit covers science terminology, math terminology and technical language — essential concepts for Vocabulary. Use our interactive study games to test your understanding, or review questions in traditional format below.
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This unit covers science terminology, math terminology and technical language — essential concepts for Vocabulary. Use our interactive study games to test your understanding, or review questions in traditional format below.
Key Concepts Breakdown
1 Science Terminology
Students must be able to identify, define, and apply core science vocabulary in context. Exams test whether you can distinguish between similar terms (e.g., hypothesis vs. theory) and use them correctly in sentences. Understanding root words, prefixes, and suffixes helps decode unfamiliar science terms.
Key Points
- A hypothesis is a testable prediction; a theory is a well-supported explanation backed by repeated evidence
- Prefixes like 'bio-' (life), 'geo-' (earth), 'thermo-' (heat) help decode unknown terms
- Independent variable = what you change; dependent variable = what you measure
- Qualitative data describes qualities (color, texture); quantitative data uses numbers (mass, temperature)
A student reads: 'The biologist observed that the organism exhibited thermotaxis.' What does thermotaxis most likely mean?
Break the word into parts: 'thermo-' means heat and '-taxis' means movement in response to a stimulus. Combined, thermotaxis means movement in response to heat. This root-based strategy works on most science vocabulary questions even when the word is unfamiliar.
2 Math Terminology
Students must know precise definitions of math terms because exam questions rely on exact meanings — confusing 'mean' and 'median,' for example, will lead to wrong answers. Terms appear in word problems, graph labels, and instructions, so recognition in context is essential. Focus on terms related to operations, statistics, geometry, and algebra.
Key Points
- Mean = average (sum ÷ count); Median = middle value when ordered; Mode = most frequent value
- A factor divides evenly into a number; a multiple is the result of multiplying a number by an integer
- Perimeter = total distance around a shape; Area = space inside a shape (always in square units)
- An equation shows equality (=); an expression has no equal sign and cannot be 'solved,' only simplified
Find the mean, median, and mode of the data set: 4, 7, 7, 9, 13.
Mean: add all values (4+7+7+9+13 = 40), then divide by 5 values → mean = 8. Median: the data is already ordered; the middle value (3rd of 5) is 7 → median = 7. Mode: 7 appears twice, more than any other value → mode = 7. Exam questions often ask you to identify which measure best represents the data, so knowing all three is required.
3 Technical Language
Technical language refers to specialized vocabulary used in a specific field — science, math, technology, or engineering. Exams test your ability to read a passage with technical terms and answer comprehension or definition questions accurately. You are expected to use context clues and word structure when a term is new.
Key Points
- Technical terms have exact, field-specific meanings that differ from everyday usage (e.g., 'work' in physics = force × distance, not general effort)
- Context clues — definitions, examples, or contrast words in surrounding sentences — often reveal meaning
- Signal words like 'which means,' 'also known as,' 'defined as,' and dashes (—) introduce definitions in technical text
- Abbreviations and units are part of technical language: km/h, Hz, mol, pH all carry specific meaning
Read this sentence: 'The solution had a pH of 2, making it highly acidic — that is, it had a high concentration of hydrogen ions.' What does 'acidic' mean as used here?
The dash followed by 'that is' signals a definition is coming. The sentence directly defines acidic as having a high concentration of hydrogen ions. Even if you didn't know the chemistry, the context clue 'that is' tells you the author is restating the meaning, which is the exact strategy to apply on reading-based technical vocabulary questions.
Questions, answered.
What is Science and Math Vocabulary?
Science and Math Vocabulary is Unit 8 of Vocabulary, covering science terminology, math terminology and technical language.
How to study for Vocabulary Unit 8?
Start with the Quick Summary above, review the Key Concepts, then test yourself with our interactive study games. Aim for 80%+ accuracy before moving on.
How many questions are in this unit?
This unit has 27+ review questions across 5 different game modes.