Math Vocabulary, Re: terms involving exponent and log functions - Page 1

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[ARCHIVED THREAD] - Math Vocabulary, Re: terms involving exponent and log functions

Posted: 2/19/2007 6:53:41 PM EDT

AAAUGH!

I've taught math for years and can never find an answer to this question. Afcom seems to be my last hope.

Follow me on this:

The answer to an addition problem is a sum, the parts added are called addends
The answer to a subtraction problem is called a difference,
the answer to a multiplication problem is a product, the parts multiplied are called factors
the answer to a division problem is called a quotient, the dividend divided by the divisor

What is the answer to an exponential problem???

in 2^5 = 32, the BASE is 2, the EXPONENT is 5, what do you call 32?????

I'm trying to teach logarithms (inverse exponential functions), and I have this trouble every year. I'm reduced to calling it the THING.

(also, what do you call the whole that you start with and the part taken away in a subtraction problem?)

Posted: 2/19/2007 6:59:40 PM EDT

[#1]

Quoted:

what do you call 32?????

Consider the "product"

(also, what do you call the whole that you start with and the part taken away in a subtraction problem?)

the whole-sum=difference

sum is both a product, result, and integer.

Posted: 2/19/2007 7:01:20 PM EDT

[#2]

32 is the "power". 2^5 is 2 to the 5th power.

Posted: 2/19/2007 7:01:50 PM EDT

[#3]

the product.

2^5=2*2*2*2*2=32

Edit
THe "Power" is apporiate too.

Posted: 2/19/2007 7:01:53 PM EDT

[#4]

32 is the "power". 2^5 is 2 to the 5th power.

Posted: 2/19/2007 7:01:53 PM EDT

[#5]

Off the top of my head, I'd say 'product', since the result is expressed as a result of (a specific form of) multiplication.

Posted: 2/19/2007 7:02:23 PM EDT

[#6]

Quoted:
.................

in 2^5 = 32, the BASE is 2, the EXPONENT is 5, what do you call 32?????

Isn't it still the product...??.... its just a series of multiplications..

Quoted:

(also, what do you call the whole that you start with and the part taken away in a subtraction problem?)

minuend and subtrahend?

Posted: 2/19/2007 7:04:05 PM EDT

[#7]

I'd say this base^exponent = product

Posted: 2/19/2007 7:05:32 PM EDT

[#8]

Quoted:
AAAUGH!

I've taught math for years and can never find an answer to this question. Afcom seems to be my last hope.

Follow me on this:

The answer to an addition problem is a sum, the parts added are called addends
The answer to a subtraction problem is called a difference,
the answer to a multiplication problem is a product, the parts multiplied are called factors
the answer to a division problem is called a quotient, the dividend divided by the divisor

What is the answer to an exponential problem???

in 2^5 = 32, the BASE is 2, the EXPONENT is 5, what do you call 32?????

I'm trying to teach logarithms (inverse exponential functions), and I have this trouble every year. I'm reduced to calling it the THING.

(also, what do you call the whole that you start with and the part taken away in a subtraction problem?)

You hit the nail on the head by calling it a "function". By performing an exponential function you are in essence doing multiplication. Therefore it would be correct to call it a "product of the exponential function".

But "Thing" works...

Other terms that might work are "exponential value" or "resultant value of the exponential function".

Thanks for your work in a truly noble but under respected profession.

Posted: 2/19/2007 7:06:55 PM EDT

[#9]

Quoted:

(also, what do you call the whole that you start with and the part taken away in a subtraction problem?)

Subtraction

The traditional names for the parts of the formula

c − b = a
are minuend (c) − subtrahend (b) = difference (a).

Posted: 2/19/2007 7:07:11 PM EDT

[#10]

Its the answer. As an engineer, I use math all the time, but it shouldn't be this complicated. A ln and exponents are just part of life. They are like gravity. IMO, math is a written language, not a spoken one.

Posted: 2/19/2007 7:13:33 PM EDT

[#11]

Thanks everybody.

Yes, I've called it the product before, since it is essentially the result of repeated multiplication. But then "product" is actually a "Sum" since multiplication is repeated addition. I'm not happy with "product"

I'm not happy with "power" either, because most folks will say that the power is the exponent. Two raised to the power of five implies that five is the power, not the result of the operation.

Resultant may be the best so far, but God help us when we get to vectors...

I tell my kids that words mean things, and to be precise when speaking, and clarify when listening, and then I'm reduced to using THING

Surely there's got to be a specific and correct term for this...

I challenged my precalculus class to make one up last year. I was not satisfied with the results. Maybe we'll try again.

Posted: 2/19/2007 7:14:41 PM EDT

[#12]

Quoted:

Quoted:

(also, what do you call the whole that you start with and the part taken away in a subtraction problem?)

Subtraction

The traditional names for the parts of the formula

c − b = a
are minuend (c) − subtrahend (b) = difference (a).

thank you. I've been in the math and science field for fifteen years and never heard those terms before

Posted: 2/19/2007 7:16:37 PM EDT

[#13]

Quoted:
Edit
THe "Power" is apporiate too.

Quoted:
32 is the "power". 2^5 is 2 to the 5th power.

Absolutely not.

"Power" is a defined term and it is this:

The "power" is the exponent to which a given quantity ("the base") is raised in an exponentiation.

See Mathworld's article:
mathworld.wolfram.com/Power.html

As for the actual answer to the question, I'm afraid I don't have one. I don't believe there is a specific term for the result of an exponentiation. Further evidence for this claim could be that in the log operation, there is no specific term for the operator x (that is, 'x' has no name in the operation ln x).

Posted: 2/19/2007 7:18:10 PM EDT

[#14]

Quoted:
Its the answer. As an engineer, I use math all the time, but it shouldn't be this complicated. A ln and exponents are just part of life. They are like gravity. IMO, math is a written language, not a spoken one.

But it needs to be explained verbally. My problem is when I illustrate that logs are a rearrangement of exponents so that the exponent is the yield rather than the, the.... the THING

I don't have a term for it like I do the others.

Perhaps I'll use yield. Is that a term that is already in use somewhere? Multiple meaning words and mathematics just don't mix for lots of students.

Posted: 2/19/2007 7:19:27 PM EDT

[#15]

Quoted:

Quoted:
Edit
THe "Power" is apporiate too.

Quoted:
32 is the "power". 2^5 is 2 to the 5th power.

Absolutely not.

"Power" is a defined term and it is this:

The "power" is the exponent to which a given quantity ("the base") is raised in an exponentiation.

See Mathworld's article:
mathworld.wolfram.com/Power.html

As for the actual answer to the question, I'm afraid I don't have one. I don't believe there is a specific term for the result of an exponentiation. Further evidence for this claim could be that in the log operation, there is no specific term for the operator x (that is, 'x' has no name in the operation ln x).

That's what I thought. Power is the exponent.

In ln(x), I've always called x (what you are taking the ln of)the argument.

Posted: 2/19/2007 7:27:56 PM EDT

[#16]

Quoted:

That's what I thought. Power is the exponent.

In ln(x), I've always called x (what you are taking the ln of)the argument.

You're correct. I misspoke when I said 'operator' ; an operator is a mapping between two function spaces.

Will have to slow down when I type ;)

Thanks for being a math teacher. I continue to look up to my past math teachers.

Posted: 2/19/2007 7:33:39 PM EDT

[#17]

Quoted:

Quoted:
Its the answer. As an engineer, I use math all the time, but it shouldn't be this complicated. A ln and exponents are just part of life. They are like gravity. IMO, math is a written language, not a spoken one.

But it needs to be explained verbally. My problem is when I illustrate that logs are a rearrangement of exponents so that the exponent is the yield rather than the, the.... the THING

I don't have a term for it like I do the others.

Perhaps I'll use yield. Is that a term that is already in use somewhere? Multiple meaning words and mathematics just don't mix for lots of students.

You are exactly right, and as long as you are consistent with the terminology it should do the job. Learning math can be confusing, and the fundamentals are the hardest part. Not to toot my own horn, but algebra is the key to everything and once I made that knowledge mine, all was relatively easy. After some experience, it has become second nature, and I can use on to useful stuff, like calc and diffeq. Laplace rules!

You guys that bust your butts teaching basic math do more for education than most of the airhead professors in college.

Posted: 2/19/2007 7:36:36 PM EDT

[#18]

Thanks. Although I'm looking for a new job... The private school where I teach hired me to address their math and science deficiencies, and now don't like how I teach. They want very little practice work, for me to stand up and lecture for 20 mins, and give the kids the second half of the period to do their work while I wander around and passively supervise. And they want me to grade papers at home.

even public school methodology isn't that poor. I see why they have issues...

I refuse to teach that way. It doesn't produce the results they way they want.

Posted: 2/19/2007 7:37:55 PM EDT

[#19]

result

Posted: 2/19/2007 7:41:23 PM EDT

[#20]

Quoted:
Thanks. Although I'm looking for a new job... The private school where I teach hired me to address their math and science deficiencies, and now don't like how I teach. They want very little practice work, for me to stand up and lecture for 20 mins, and give the kids the second half of the period to do their work while I wander around and passively supervise. And they want me to grade papers at home.

even public school methodology isn't that poor. I see why they have issues...

I refuse to teach that way. It doesn't produce the results they way they want.

Any good community colleges nearby? I got an associates degree first, and the people at the community college were great. Their salary wasn't extravagant, but they had a great math/sci staff.

Posted: 2/20/2007 6:58:52 AM EDT

[#21]

Senior in calculus today recommended "exponential product"

better than THING!

[ARCHIVED THREAD] - Math Vocabulary, Re: terms involving exponent and log functions

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