Know These Terms
Skateboarders use words unique to them. So do professional
kangaroo wrestlers. Not to be left out, there are special words
used in algebra that have specific meanings. Learn these basic six,
and you won’t be left scratching your head in the upcoming sections.
All these words are liberally thrown about on the exam. They’re
designed to paralyze students who don’t know their meaning.
| Word |
Definition |
Examples |
| Constant |
Quantity that doesn’t change,
such as a number |
6,–9, 1 |
| Variable |
An unknown quantity represented
by a letter |
x, y, a |
| Term |
The product of a constant and
a variable, or a quantity separated from other quantities by addition or
subtraction. |
4, g, –8h |
| Coefficient |
A number that appears in front
of a variable and tells how many of that variable there are. |
5 is the coefficient of 5t |
| Expression |
Any combination of terms |
–3,  ,  |
| Equation |
Two expressions linked by an
equal sign. |
 |
