Mathematics Questions

Direct answers to core math concepts and the differences students mix up most, from arithmetic through statistics.

• What is the difference between a rational and irrational number?
  A rational number can be written as a fraction of two integers (like 1/2 or 4), while an irrational number cannot — its …
• What is the Pythagorean theorem?
  The Pythagorean theorem states that in a right triangle, a² + b² = c², where a and b are the two shorter sides and c is …
• What is the difference between permutation and combination?
  A permutation counts arrangements where order matters, while a combination counts selections where order doesn’t matter.…
• What is the value of pi?
  Pi (π) is approximately 3.14159 — the ratio of a circle’s circumference to its diameter, and an irrational number whose …
• What is the difference between mean, median, and mode?
  The mean is the average, the median is the middle value, and the mode is the most frequently occurring value in a data s…