​Constant: a fixed value, a number on its own, whose value does not change.

​

A constant may either be positive or negative.

​Vocabulary

​Example: 4x + 2

​

​Example: -7x - 14

​(2 is the constant)

​(-14 is the constant)

​Variable: any letter or symbol that represents a changeable or unknown value.

​

​Vocabulary

​Example: 4x + 2

​x is the variable

​Coefficient: the number multiplied by the variable. It is located in front of the variable.

​

A coefficient may either be positive or negative.

​Vocabulary

​Example: 4x + 2

​

​​Example: -8x + 3

​(4 is the coefficient)

​(-8 is the coefficient)

​Coefficient: **special note**

​

​If there is no visible coefficient, then 1 is the coefficient.

​Vocabulary

​Example: x + 7

​-x + 7

​-1x + 7

​1x + 7

​same thing

​same thing

​Term: a number (like 5)

a variable (like y)

the product of a number and variable (like 3x)

the product of a number and variables (like 8xy)

​

​Terms are separated by + or  -

​Vocabulary

​Example: 6x + 7

​

first term

second term

​Vocabulary

​Equation: two expressions balanced with an equal sign. 

​Vocabulary

expression 1 = expression 2