Number part in front of an algebraic term, signifying multiplication. For example, in the expression 4
x2 + 2
xy -
x, the coefficient of
x2 is 4 (because 4
x2 means 4 ×
x2), that of
xy is 2, and that of
x is -1 (because -1 ×
x = -
x).
In general algebraic expressions, coefficients are represented by letters that may stand for numbers; for example, in the equation
ax2 +
bx +
c = 0,
a,
b, and
c are coefficients, which can take any number.
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