Algebraic Terminology

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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 72B - 8 + 9h + 2, the number 8 is a constant.

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What is a coefficient?

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

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Identify the term that contains a coefficient: m, 3n, p, 3.

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3n contains a coefficient.

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How many variables are in the expression 8y + 7j - 2 + 4u?

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There are 3 variables: y, j, and u.

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How many terms are in the expression 3a + 2b + c + 100?

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There are 4 terms: 3a, 2b, c, and 100.

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What is a variable in algebra?

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

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What is an expression in algebra?

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An expression is a combination of numbers, variables, and operations (like addition and subtraction) that represents a value. For example, 4x + 5 is an expression.

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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 addition or subtraction. For example, in 3x + 4y - 5, there are three terms: 3x, 4y, and -5.

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What does it mean to simplify an expression?

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To simplify an expression means to combine like terms and reduce it to its simplest form. For example, 2x + 3x simplifies to 5x.

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What is the difference between an equation and an expression?

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An equation states that two expressions are equal, while an expression does not include an equality sign. For example, 2x + 3 = 7 is an equation, while 2x + 3 is an expression.