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Coefficient
Rhino
TheRhinLOLRegistered User regular
TheRhinLOLRegistered User regular
Can someone explain this to me in layman terms? I googled it, but don't think I understand it.
Also how are the variable, numerical, true, and real coefficients defined?
Also how are the variable, numerical, true, and real coefficients defined?
Rhino on
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"Find the numerical coefficients in the below problems"
So in the above, what is the coefficient?
15. 15 is the number in front of the variable. 15 is the coefficient.
Coefficient can mean other things in other contexts, but this is the most basic math meaning of the word.
What about 8x + 9z?
The answer in back of book (for pratice set) says that 8 is the numeral coefficient, x is the variable coefficent and has a 'strike' though 9 or z (meaning they aren't coefficients). Why aren't 9 or z a coefficient?
So coefficient can be defined as "something you multiply against"?
What about this?
(A +
4 would be the numerial coefficient, right? What type of coefficients are A & B?
That doesn't seem to make any sense. Does your book give a definition of the "variable, numerical, true, and real coefficients" that you asked about in the original post?
from Wikipedia
If A and B are variables, then in 4(A+B), 4 is the coefficient. In 8x + 9z, 8 and 9 are the coefficients.
But F(x) = 8x + 9z makes sense. 8 would be a coefficient and 9z are constants.
That is the example from the book.
Why isn't 9 a coefficient?
Because the variable in question is "x", not z.
If it were F(z) = 8x + 9z then 9 would be the coefficient.
Math books are always pulling this kind of shit.
But yeah, in terms of x, 9z isn't a coefficient.
Actually, wikipedia spells it out pretty good: a coefficient is a constant multiplicative factor of a specific object.
Thanks guys, I guess I understand.
In math terminology, what is a "specific object" defined as?
It's not really a math term, it's just anything that the focus is on. Like the focus being on x in your math book, even though it wasn't stated. As in "What is the coefficient of x in the equation 3x + 2y"
x is the specific object that we're talking about here.
ok.
So coefficient just means "number" or variable that we're "concerned" with. got it. Thanks.
?
It's a refresher course.
This is probably going to confuse you, but no.
While a coefficient can be any real number, it's not a variable.
x is a variable. In other words, letters.
1) 3x
2) 7y
3) 15z + 2n
4) 6a(2x-9y)
5) 3 + 48b - v/12 + 6g
1) The coefficient of x is 3.
2) The coefficient of y is 7.
3) The coefficient of z is 15. The coefficient of n is 2.
4) The coefficient of a is 6. The coefficient of x is 2. The coefficient of y is 9.
5) The coefficient of b is 48. The coefficient of g is 6. The coefficient of v is 1/12.
Sensing a pattern here? Later on you can worry about trick questions and specific objects. The basic concept is the same everywhere. These guys are just making you think too hard about something basic.
Er, I'm pretty sure that number 4 is a bit off. Maybe you meant something else, because typically you want to expand out terms to get coefficients. So 6a(2x - 9y) = 12a*x - 54a*y, which has the coefficient 12 for a*x and -54 for a*y.
The question should be specific on what coefficient(s) in particular they are asking for if there is potential for ambiguity.
Technically you're right. (which is the best kind of right)
I might be wrong and this is kind of nitpicky, but couldn't you say that for: 6a(2x-9y), 6 is the coefficient of a(2x-9y) (ie: treating a(2x-9y) as one term affected by 6).
...like i said kinda really nitpicky....
No, a(2x-9y) is two terms; 2xa - 2ya.
I'm sure he meant factor in that.
It's almost trivial.
It seems like it is, but learning the vocabulary of math is pretty important.
You learn by actually doing math, not nitpicking about the definition of a coefficient.
No. There's a huge difference between (4x+9)dx and 4x+9dx. Getting your math definitions and nomenclature correct now will help you immensely when you continue your math education.