A-Z of Basic Concepts In Agricultural Mathematics
These are simple terms frequently used to describe or express phenomena related to agriculture or Mathematics. Every profession has its unique vocabulary or languages that are particular to it. These words make it easy for proper understanding and problem-solving, and agricultural mathematics is no exception.
It is, therefore, expedient that stakeholders in agriculture should have a full understanding of these basic concepts for better understanding and application. Below are explanations of some basic concepts in agricultural Mathematics.
Read Also: Agricultural Mathematics, Meaning and Calculation
- Appreciation: this refers to an increase in the value of assets
- Area: it refers to a measurement of the surface of a shape or land in a square unit representing the total area covered. It is usually defined using boundaries or lines.
- Angle: this is a figure created using two straight line on a common point.
- Acute Angle: this refers to an angle whose measure is between 0 0 and 90 degrees.
- Capacity: describe the volume of a substance that an object can contain or hold. It is usually used to express liquid or gas.
- Centimeter: this is a metric unit of measurement for length, breadth, height, and base. It is represented by an abbreviation of cm.
- Circumference: This is the distance around a circle.
- Chord: A line segment connecting two points on a circle.
- Common Factors: A factor that divides exactly into two or more given numbers.
- Complementary Angles: Two angles whose measures are added up to that together to form 90 degrees.
- Cone: A three-dimensional shape with only one circular base and a single vertex.
- Constant: A value that does not change.
- Decimal: A number in the base 10 (ten) numbering system.it is represented in fraction as part of the number (i.e. 0.5)
- Degree: This refers to the unit of measuring an angle. It is represented with the symbol °.
- Depreciation: this refers to the reduction in the value of assets due to friction (i.e. wearing and tearing)
- Dividend: this is a portion of company profit share or distributed to shareholders.
- Discount: this refers to the reduction in the prices of goods and services. It could be in the form of monetary value or a percentage reduction in the price of a commodity or service.
- Fractions: Fractions represent a part of a whole number having a numerator (The upper numbers) and a denominator (the lower numbers). An example of a fraction is ½ + ¾. 1 and 3 are the numerator while 2 and 4 are the denominator.
- Improper Fraction: this refers to a fraction where the numerator is the same or bigger than the denominator, such as 4/2.
- Kilometer: A metric unit measurement of length usually equal to 1000 meters.
- Loss: loss is said to occur when there is no amount of money left in a business after deducting total expenditure from the total revenue.
- Man-days: it is used to measure the rate of work done by an individual within a particular time or a day. It is a standard unit of measurement of work done.
- Mixed Numbers: a fraction is said to be mixed when it has whole numbers in combination with fractions or decimals. Example 3½ + 1¾. Or 1¾ or 1.5.
- Obtuse Angle: these are angles measuring between 90° and 180°.
- Obtuse Triangle: this refers to a triangle with one angle as an obtuse angle.
- Plane: a flat two-dimensional shape that is infinitely in all areas.
- Plant Population: this is the total number of plants in a specific area of land
- Price: this refers to the amount of money a particular commodity or service is offered for payment
- Profit: this is financial gain in agribusiness. It is calculated by subtracting the total expenditure from the total revenue. It also refers to the amount of money left in a business after deducting total expenditure from the total revenue.
- Percentages: A percentage is a fraction or ratio of a whole number expressed out of 100. It is represented by the symbol (%).
- Profitability: it refers to the ability of a venture to yield or generate financial gain.
- Profit margin: this refers to the financial ratio of the percentage profit earned by a farm in comparison to its revenue.
- Per hectare: this refers to the measurement or calculation of land size on a hectare basis. This is usually in 10,000 square meters (m2).
- Per acre: this refers to the measurement or calculation of land size on an acre basis. This is usually in 4047 square meters (m2).
- Proper Fraction: this refers to a fraction where the denominator, is the same or bigger than the numerator such as 2/4.
- Ratio: ratio involves comparing two numbers to show their relative sizes (i.e. how big one is from another). The two numbers are separated by a colon. E.g. 3:5.
- Right Angle: this is an angle equal to 90 degrees.
- Rhombus: this is a parallelogram with four equal sides with no right angles.
- Weight: This is the expression of how heavy an object is.
- Seed rate: this is the number of seeds required in planting a particular area.
- Scalene Triangle: this is a triangle with all sides having different lengths.
- Sector: This is the area of a circle enclosed by an arc and two radii. It is described as a wedge.
- Slope: a Slope measure of steepness or incline of a line. Determined by comparing the vertical and horizontal changes between the points.
- Volume: refers to the measurement of the space that a substance occupies or the capacity of a container, expressed in cubic units.
- Yard: A unit of measure that is equal to 3 feet or approximately 91.5 centimeters (cm)