Page 37 - Appplied Mathematics for the Petroleum and Other Industries, 5th Edition

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Glossary

abscissa n: the horizontal coordinate of a point in a plane base n: in mathematics, the quantity of which a percent-
obtained by measuring parallel to the x-axis. Compare age is desired; in geometry, the side of a polygon that is
ordinate. oriented perpendicular to the direction in which height
addend n: one of a collection of numbers to be added. is measured or that is generally considered the bottom
of the polygon.
algebra n: the part of mathematics in which letters and
other general symbols are used to represent numbers and binary digit n: a basic unit of information in a computer
quantities in formulae and equations. with a single binary value of either 0 or 1.
algebraic expression n: a mathematical expression con- bit n: a shortening and portmanteau of the term “binary
sisting of a combination of numbers, symbols, letters, digit.” See binary digit.
and signs. blowout n: an uncontrolled flow of gas, oil, or other
ampere (A) n: the fundamental unit of electrical cur- well fluids into the atmosphere or into an underground
rent; 1 ampere = 6.28 × 10 electrons passing through formation. A blowout may occur when formation pres-
18
the circuit per second. One ampere delivers 1 coulomb sure exceeds the pressure applied to it by the column of
in 1 second. drilling fluid and rig crew members fail to take steps to
antilogarithm n: the number of which a given number contain the pressure. Before a well blows out, it kicks;
is the logarithm for a given base. See logarithm. thus a kick precedes a blowout. See kick.
apparent power n: the vector sum of the power in watts board foot n: a variation of volume measurement com-
plus the reactive power in volt-ampere-reactive (VAR) monly used for lumber, consisting of 144 cubic inches
in a circuit. See reactive power. of wood.
Arabic numeral n: any of the symbols first invented by body n: the part of the table that presents the desired
the Arabs to represent the numbers from one through statistics.
nine and for zero. Boolean logic n: a system of symbolic logic based on
area n: the extent of a surface enclosed within a bound- algebraic symbols representing such logical operations
ary, found by obtaining the product of two lengths; as AND, OR, and NOR.
the extent of the surface of all or part of a solid. For boxhead n: the primary set of variables in a table. They
two-dimensional plane surfaces, area is usually stated in also need units of measure to quantify them, such as
square units. For example, a rectangle 2 feet long on one percent, dollars, inches, and so on.
side and 3 feet long on the other side has an area of 2 ×
2
3 feet, which equals 6 square feet (ft ). Thus, the area of
2
the rectangle is 6 ft . calibration n: the process of establishing the lowest
process variable to be measured, along with the highest
augend n: the quantity or number to which another
quantity or number is added. process variable to be measured through mechanical or
electronic adjustment; sometimes called reranging. See
average n: approximately or resembling an arithmetic process variable.
mean, specifically, about midway between extremes.
Celsius scale n: the metric scale of temperature mea-
Petroleum Extension-The University of Texas at Austin
axiom n: a statement or idea that is generally accepted surement used universally by scientists. On this scale, 0°
as true. represents the freezing point of water and 100° its boiling
point at a barometric pressure of 760 mm.

bar graph n: a type of graph that represents data with circle graph n: a type of graph in which a circle is divided
rectangular bars of differing heights or lengths, which into sectors that represent a proportion of the whole,
is a good way to present data that represents a series of often used to compare various parts of a whole to each
observations made at periodic intervals. other and to the whole.
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