Algebraic Equations Vocabulary

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What is a constant in algebra?

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A constant is a fixed value that does not change. For example, in the expression 8 + 3x, the number 8 is a constant.

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What is a coefficient?

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A coefficient is a number that is multiplied by a variable in an algebraic expression. For example, in 3x, the number 3 is the coefficient.

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What is a variable?

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A variable is a symbol, often a letter, that represents an unknown value in an algebraic expression or equation. For example, in 3x + 5, 'x' is the variable.

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What is an algebraic expression?

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An algebraic expression is a combination of numbers, variables, and operators (like + and -) without an equal sign. For example, 2x + 5 is an algebraic expression.

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What is an equation?

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An equation is a mathematical statement that asserts the equality of two expressions, typically containing an equal sign. For example, 2x + 3 = 7 is an equation.

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What is an operator in algebra?

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An operator is a symbol that represents a mathematical operation, such as addition (+), subtraction (-), multiplication (*), or division (/). For example, '+' is an operator.

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What is a term in an algebraic expression?

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A term is a single mathematical expression that can be a number, a variable, or a combination of both, separated by operators. For example, in 3x + 5, both '3x' and '5' are terms.

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What does it mean to solve an equation?

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To solve an equation means to find the value of the variable that makes the equation true. For example, solving 2x + 3 = 7 gives x = 2.

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What is the difference between an expression and an equation?

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An expression does not have an equal sign and represents a value, while an equation has an equal sign and states that two expressions are equal.

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What is an exponent?

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An exponent is a number that shows how many times a base is multiplied by itself. For example, in 2^3, the exponent is 3, meaning 2 is multiplied by itself 3 times (2 * 2 * 2).