"Core Curriculum: Introductory Craft Skills," Vocabulary from Module Two

Learn these words to gain some real-life insights into the construction industry. This list focuses on math.

Here are links to our lists for the trainee guide: Module One, Module Two, Module Three, Module Four, Module Five, Module Six, Module Seven, Module Eight, Module Nine
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Full list of words from this list:

words only definitions & notes
  1. estimate
    judge tentatively
    Carpenters will often use whole numbers during the early phases of
    planning to quickly estimate the square feet of drywall, or linear feet of baseboard necessary to finish a room.
    Whole numbers: Complete number units without fractions or decimals.
    Mixed number: A combination of a whole number with a fraction or decimal.
  2. accuracy
    the quality of being near to the true value
    Sheet metal workers will use whole numbers during the planning phase for installing an air handling system and to estimate, with relative accuracy, trunk line dimensions, lengths, and the amount of air it will be required to handle.
  3. value
    a numerical quantity measured or assigned or computed
    Each digit has a value that depends on its place, or location, in the whole number.
    A digit is any of the numerical symbols from 0 to 9. The exact value a digit represents in a whole number is determined by its place within the whole number or by its position relative to the decimal point. In the number 124, the number 2 represents 20, since it is in the tens position.
  4. positive
    greater than zero
    Numbers larger than zero are called positive numbers (such as 1, 2, 3 ...). Except for zero, all numbers without a minus sign in front of them are positive.
    Numbers less than zero are called negative numbers (such as -1, -2, -3 ...). Negative numbers can also be whole numbers. Zero (0) is neither positive nor negative.
  5. difference
    the number that remains after subtraction
    To subtract means to take away a given amount of one number from the total amount of a second number to find the difference.
    To add means to combine the values of two or more numbers together into one sum or total.
  6. quotient
    the number obtained by division
    Division is the opposite of multiplication. Instead of adding a number several times (5 + 5 + 5 = 15, or 5 X 3 = 15), you subtract a number several times to find a quotient in division.
    The two numbers in a division problem have their own names. The number being divided is known as the dividend. The number the dividend is being divided by is called the divisor. When a given number is not neatly divisible by another number, the left over is the remainder.
  7. fraction
    the quotient of two rational numbers
    But, in the end, fractions simply represent another way to write a division problem. In the case of many fractions you will encounter, the quotient of the division problem is not important—the fraction itself provides the needed information.
    The number on top of a fraction is known as the numerator, but it is the same thing as the dividend in a long division problem. The lower number, called the denominator, is the divisor.
  8. operation
    a calculation by mathematical methods
    Many math problems cannot be solved without using more than one operation.
    The order of operations for math was actually established in the 1500s. For simple equations, the order is: multiplication, division, addition, and subtraction. A simple acronym—MDAS—can remind you of this order.
  9. equivalent
    being essentially comparable to something
    As long as the numerator and denominator of a given fraction are being multiplied by the same number, you are creating an equivalent fraction.
    Improper fraction: A fraction whose numerator is larger than its denominator.
  10. invert
    turn inside out or upside down
    Dividing fractions is very much like multiplying fractions, with one difference. You must invert, or flip, the fraction you are dividing by.
  11. decimal
    a proper fraction whose denominator is a power of 10
    For applications requiring extreme precision, extending a number five places to the right of the decimal point usually provides the required precision.
    Decimals are often referred to as decimal fractions, since they represent part of a whole number.
  12. exponent
    notation of how many times to multiply a quantity by itself
    Scientific notation (sometimes called exponential notation) is a system that allows you to conveniently write very large or very small decimal-based numbers using an exponent. The exponent represents the number of times you multiply the multiplier by the multiplicand.
  13. percentage
    a proportion in relation to a whole
    Some numbers relevant to the job at hand may appear as decimals, some as percentages, and others as fractions. Decimals, percentages, and fractions are all just different ways of expressing the same thing.
  14. metric
    based on a decimal unit of measurement
    Unlike the United States, the vast majority of the world works with the metric system of measurement. The metric system is perfectly matched to the decimal system, since both are based on units of 10.
    Metric Examples Visualized (approximation only):
    •1 millimeter = the thickness of the edge of a dime
    •1 centimeter = the width of a standard paperclip
    •1 decimeter = the length of a crayon
    •1 meter = the distance from a door handle to the floor (about 1.1 yards)
    •1 kilometer = the length of 6 city blocks (about 0.6 miles)
    •1 gram = weight of a paperclip
    •1 kilogram = weight of a brick (about 2.2 pounds)
  15. convert
    change from one system to another or to a new plan or policy
    However, for those working with the Imperial or inch-pound system of measurement, measurements may need to be converted to decimals.
  16. profit
    excess of revenues over outlays in a given period of time
    When contractors determine a percentage of profit, they must take into consideration many different costs.
    Direct costs are expenses that can be directly attributed to completing the job (for example, all of the materials and labor hours required to build a house). Indirect costs (or overhead costs) are expenses that cannot be directly related to building that specific house, but are required to run the company on a day-to-day basis (this can include such items as insurance, administrative staff payroll, marketing, office supplies, and property taxes).
  17. dimension
    one of three coordinates that determine a position in space
    A 2" x 4" board used in the United States is not actually 2 inches by 4 inches in dimension.
    Over the years, the actual size of lumber compared to its nominal dimension has steadily decreased. Lumber is sized when it is first cut, but this nominal dimension does not account for the lumber shrinking after it is dried and planed.
  18. quantity
    how much there is or how many there are of something
    A measurement is simply a comparison of a quantity to some definite standard measure of dimension called a unit. Whenever a physical quantity is described, the units of the standard to which the quantity was compared, such as a foot, a liter, or a pound, must be specified.
  19. increment
    the amount by which something increases
    For work requiring an even higher level of precision, the inch can also be broken down to decimal values. The increments are usually thousandths (0.001 inches) or ten-thousandths (0.0001 inches) when extreme precision is required.
  20. precision
    the quality of being exact
    The number can be rounded depending upon the level of precision required for the result.
  21. volume
    the amount of 3-dimensional space occupied by an object
    Volume is the amount of space occupied by a three-dimensional object such as a barrel or the piston of an engine. Three separate two-dimensional measurements are typically needed to properly calculate volume: length, width, and height.
    The result of multiplying the three measurements together to determine volume is indicated by adding the word cubic to the unit of measure. For example, if a cube measures 1" X 1" X 1", the volume is shown as 1 cubic inch.
  22. scale
    an ordered reference standard
    However, temperature is somewhat different from other units of measure, in that most countries of the world are likely to use several temperature scales for different applications.
    The four temperature scales commonly used today are the Fahrenheit scale, Celsius scale, Rankine scale, and Kelvin scale. The scales of primary importance in most crafts are the Fahrenheit scale and the Celsius scale. The Rankine scale and the Kelvin scale are better suited for scientific applications.
  23. geometry
    the mathematics of points and lines and curves and surfaces
    The construction industry is based on a world of measurements and shapes. It is important to recognize basic shapes and understand them mathematically in order to make use of geometry in your chosen craft.
    In plane geometry, the shapes are two-dimensional. These shapes have length and width only. In solid geometry, also known as 3D geometry, shapes have three dimensions, including height.
  24. angle
    the space between two lines or planes that intersect
    An angle is an important term in the construction trades. It is used by all building trades to describe the shape made by two straight lines that meet at a point called the vertex.
    Acute angle - measures between 0 and 90 degrees.
    Obtuse angle - measures between 90 and 180 degrees.
    Straight angle - measures precisely 180 degrees (a flat line).
  25. perpendicular
    intersecting at or forming right angles
    The two lines that form the right angle are perpendicular to each other. Imagine the shape of a capital letter L. This is a right angle, because the sides of the L are perpendicular to one another.
    This is the angle used most often in the construction trades. A right angle is indicated in plans or drawings with a square symbol at the vertex.
  26. adjacent
    having a common boundary or edge
    Adjacent angles - These angles have the same vertex and one side in common. Adjacent refers to objects that are next to each other.
    Opposite angles - Angles formed by two straight lines that cross are opposite. Opposite angles are always equal.
  27. parallel
    be equidistant to and not intersect
    A rectangle has two pairs of equal sides that are parallel to each other.
  28. perimeter
    the size of something as given by the distance around it
    You may need to calculate the perimeter of a shape to measure, mark, and cut the right amount of material.
  29. degree
    a measure for arcs and angles
    Although the angles in a triangle can vary, the sum of the three angles is always 180 degrees.
    Right triangle - has one 90-degree angle.
    Equilateral triangle - has three equal angles and three equal sides.
    Isosceles triangle - has two equal angles and two sides equal in length. A line that bisects (runs from the center of the base of the triangle to the highest point) an isosceles triangle creates two adjacent right angles.
    Scalene triangle - has three sides of unequal lengths.
  30. circumference
    the length of the closed curve of a circle
    The formula for finding circumference is pi (3.14) X diameter.
  31. diameter
    the length of a straight line through the center of a circle
    The diameter of a circle is the length of a straight line that crosses from one side of the circle through the center point to a point on the opposite side. The diameter is the longest straight line you can draw inside a circle.
    Radius is the length of a straight line from the center point of the circle to any point on the closed curved line that forms the circle. It is equal to half the diameter.
  32. area
    the extent of a two-dimensional surface within a boundary
    For example, you must calculate the area of a shape, such as a floor or a wall, to order the proper amount of material, such as carpeting or paint.
    Area measurements in the Imperial system are typically in square inches, square feet, and square yards. Area measurements in the metric system are often in square centimeters and square meters. When larger areas are involved, such as land, the units may be in square miles or square kilometers.
  33. formula
    a procedure for solving a class of mathematical problems
    The volume of a triangular prism is calculated using the following formula: 0.5 X base X height X depth (thickness).
    Remember to ensure that all dimensions in the formula are in matching units before multiplying.
  34. theorem
    an idea accepted as a demonstrable truth
    The 3-4-5 rule is based on the Pythagorean theorem, and it has been used in building construction for centuries. This simple method for laying out or checking right angles requires only the use of a tape measure. The numbers 3-4-5 represent dimensions in feet that describe the sides of a right triangle.
  35. complex
    complicated in structure
    Basic operations such as addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division are the keys to completing these tasks. However, more complex mathematical operations will be necessary for a number of tasks, such as planning a piping offset.
Created on Sat Oct 31 14:48:40 EDT 2015 (updated Thu Nov 05 16:12:11 EST 2015)

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