Expressions vs. Equations Vocabulary

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What is an algebraic expression?

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An algebraic expression is a combination of numbers, variables, and operations (like addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division) without an equal sign. Example: 3 + 17 - k.

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What is a numerical expression?

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A numerical expression is a mathematical phrase that includes numbers and operations but does not contain variables or an equal sign. Example: 5 - 4.

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What is the difference between an expression and an equation?

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The main difference is that an equation contains an equal sign, while an expression does not.

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What is a term in mathematics?

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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 operations. Example: In 3x + 5, '3x' and '5' are terms.

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What is a variable?

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A variable is a symbol (usually a letter) that represents an unknown value in an expression or equation. Example: In the expression 2x + 3, 'x' is the variable.

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What is a coefficient?

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A coefficient is a numerical factor that multiplies a variable in an expression. Example: In 4x, '4' is the coefficient.

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What is a constant?

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A constant is a fixed value that does not change. Example: In the expression 2x + 5, '5' is a constant.

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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. Example: 3x - 5 = 10.

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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 perform operations to make it easier to understand or solve. Example: 2x + 3x simplifies to 5x.

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What are like terms?

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Like terms are terms that have the same variable raised to the same power. Example: 3x and 5x are like terms.