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Making Connections Glossary
least common multiple (LCM)  
  (1) The smallest common multiple of a set of two or more integers.  For example, the least common multiple of 4, 6, and 8 is 24. 

(2) For two or more algebraic monomials, the product of the least common integer multiples of the coefficients of the monomials and the variable(s) in each algebraic term with the greatest degree of that variable in every term.  For example, the least common factor of 12x3y2 and 8xy4 is 24x3y4.
leg of a right triangle  
  Either of the two shorter sides of a right triangle that form the right angle.  (See Pythagorean Theorem for a diagram.)
less than  
  (1) One expression is less than another if its value is not as large.  This relationship is indicated with the less than symbol “<.”  For example, 1 + 1  is less than 4 + 5 , so the comparison is written as 1 + 1 < 4 + 5 .  (2) Sometimes the comparison is made that one amount is a certain quantity less than another amount.  For example, a student movie ticket might cost two dollars less than an adult ticket.
like terms  
  Two or more terms that contain the same variable(s), with corresponding variables raised to the same power.  For example, 5x2 and 2x2 are like terms.  (See combining like terms.)
line  
  A line is an undefined term in geometry.  A line is one-dimensional and continues without end in two directions.  A line is made up of points and has no thickness.  A line may be named with a letter (such as l), but also may be labeled using two points on the line, such as  shown below.
   
line segment  
  The portion of a line between two points.  A line segment is named using its endpoints.  For example, the line segment at right may be named either  or .
   
linear equation  
  An equation in two variables whose graph is a line.  For example, y = 2.1x − 8  is a linear equation.  The standard form for a linear equation is ax + by = c , where  a,  b, and  c  are constants and  a  and  b  are not both zero.  Most linear equations may be written in y = mx + b form, which is more useful for determining the slope and y-intercept of the line.
linear expression  
  An expression in the form of ax + b  for which  a  and  b  are numbers.
lower quartile  
  The median of the lower half of an ordered set of data is the lower quartile.
lowest common denominator (LCD)  
  The smallest common multiple of the denominators of two or more fractions.  For example, the LCD of  and  is 24.