Parts of an expression
example of factor
2 and x2 are factors of 2x2 −3 and y are factors of −3y −1 and z are factors of −z
Identify the parts of: 4(t + 3) - s factor
: Parentheses not only group operations together, they also mean multiplication of two factors. 4 and t + 3 are factors of the term 4(t + 3).
Identify the parts of: 4(t + 3) - s term
: There are two terms in this expression: 4(t + 3) and -s
Identify the parts of: 4(t + 3) - s variable
: t and s
Constant
Constants are numbers that stand alone. They are called constants because they have fixed value The constant of this expression is 6
term
Expressions are made up of terms separated by a plus or minus sign. Terms can contain variables, numbers, or products of variables and numbers.
variable
Expressions, whether they are mathematical or verbal, can contain variables. A variable is a letter that holds the place for some unknown value in an expression
Factor
Factors are numbers you multiply together to produce a product.
Identify the parts of: 4(t + 3) - s constant
In this expression, the second factor of the term 4(t + 3) has a constant of 3
remember coefficient
Remember, if there is no number in front of a variable, it is understood as 1 times that variable and is not written
ex coefficient
The coefficients in this expression are 2, −3, and −1
Identify the parts of: 4(t + 3) - s Coefficient
The coefficients in this expression are 4, 1, and -1
example of terms
The given expression contains four total terms: 2x2, −3y, −z, and 6. Notice how the plus or minus sign is attached to the term immediately following it.
coefficient
When multiplying a variable and a number to write a term, the number is listed first and is called the coefficient. It is important to remember the sign in front of the term also goes with that term.
unknown value
expressions can have two or more unknown values. In those cases, you simply use a new letter for each unknown value.
unknown value
the given mathematical expression has three unknown values because there are three variables: x, y, and z