What does theorem mean?
Word: Theorem
Part of Speech: Noun
Meaning: Theorem means a statement, especially in mathematics, that can be shown to be true through logical steps.
How do you spell theorem?
Syllables: the - o - rem
Tricky part: The last vowel is hardly heard, so students often write um or om at the end.
Watch out for: theorum, theorom
Memory tip: Remember opens with rem, and a theorem closes with it.
Theorem in a sentence
Example 1: Our maths teacher proved the theorem in six neat lines on the board.
Example 2: Reena used a circle theorem to find the missing angle.
Example 3: Every theorem in this chapter comes with a worked example.
Fun Fact
Fermat's Last Theorem stayed unproved for more than 350 years, until the mathematician Andrew Wiles finished the proof in the 1990s.
Practise the CREST Way
Mingle-Mangle
The sentence hides a jumbled word. Choose the word:
On Monday Mr Das will teach us a new oerhmte about the angles of a polygon.
a) thermos
b) thesis
c) theory
d) theorem
Show answer
d) theorem. Thermos needs an s, while theory and thesis lack the m that the jumble has.
Word Cookie
Fill in the missing letters to complete the word:
t_e_rem
a) r, o
b) h, a
c) h, o
d) h, u
Show answer
c) h, o. The word begins like theory, with th, and the same o follows the e.
Word Cookie
One letter in this word is not needed. Find it:
theoarem
a) a
b) r
c) o
d) e
Show answer
a) a. No a belongs anywhere in this word.
Spell-o-Spell
Only one word in the list is spelt correctly. Choose its meaning.
1. paralell 2. algebre 3. theorem 4. geometery
a) maths that uses letters for numbers
b) always the same distance apart
c) the study of lines, angles and shapes
d) a claim in maths that is backed by proof
Show answer
d) a claim in maths that is backed by proof. Parallel has its double l earlier, algebra ends in a, and geometry has one e fewer.
Multiple Choice Questions
1. What makes a theorem different from a guess?
a) It was agreed on by a vote in class.
b) It has been proved by careful reasoning.
c) It can only be used in a school exam.
d) It was written by a famous person.
Show answer
b) It has been proved by careful reasoning.
2. The Pythagoras theorem is about the sides of which shape?
a) a right-angled triangle
b) a rectangular prism
c) a regular hexagon
d) a perfect semicircle
Show answer
a) a right-angled triangle
