Year 7: Coefficients and constants

What is a Coefficient?

A coefficient is the number that multiplies a variable. Variables are letters that represent unknown numbers.

Example: In the expression 3x + 5, the coefficient of x is 3. The 'x' is the variable.

What is a Constant?

A constant is a number that doesn’t change value and isn't multiplied by a variable. It's a number by itself.

Example: In the expression 2x + 7, the constant is 7.

Identifying Coefficients and Constants

Steps to identify:

1. Look for variables (letters) – these are multiplied by coefficients.
2. Numbers that stand alone are constants.

Practice Examples

Example 1: 5y + 2 – Coefficients: 5, Constant: 2

Example 2: 8a - 15 – Coefficients: 8, Constant: -15

Example 3: 12z + 4x + 9 – Coefficients: 12, 4, Constant: 9

Remember to focus on the numbers that are next to the variables.