Expressions vs. Equations Vocabulary

An expression is a combination of numbers, variables, and operators (such as +, -, *, /) that represents a value but does not include an equal sign.

An equation is a mathematical statement that asserts the equality of two expressions, typically containing an equal sign (=).

A constant is a fixed value that does not change, such as the number 3 in the expression 5x - 3.

The number 5 is a coefficient, which is a number that multiplies a variable.

A coefficient is a number that multiplies a variable, while a constant is a fixed value that does not change.

A variable is a symbol (often a letter) that represents an unknown value in an expression or equation.

The expression 2x represents multiplication, where 2 is the coefficient multiplying the variable x.

The equal sign indicates that the expressions on either side of it have the same value.

No, an expression cannot be solved; it can only be simplified or evaluated, while an equation can be solved for unknown values.

An example of a mathematical expression is 3x + 5.