Algebra
Vocabulary
SOL 6.23
Coefficient
• A coefficient is the numerical factor
in a term.
–Example: in the term 4x, 4 is the
coefficient.
• If the coefficient is not written, it is 1
–Example: in the term d, 1 is the
coefficient.
1. Circle the coefficient
3x
4y
5a
7b 1a
Variable
• A variable is a symbol
(placeholder) used to represent
an unknown number.
–Example: in the term 4x, x is
the variable
2. Circle the variable
3x
4y
5a
7b
a
Term
• A term is a number, variable, product
or quotient in an expression of sums
and/or differences. Terms are
separated with a + or – sign.
–Examples:
w
5
3w
y/
8
How many terms are there?
2
7x
+ 5x - 3
There are 3 terms!
3. Indicate the number of
terms in each expression
•
2x + 1
_____
2
•
3b
1
_____
•
5a - 25
_____
2
•
a/
6
1
_____
•
y/
2
•
4d – 6
+3–7
3
_____
_____
2
Inverse Operations
• Inverse operations are operations which
undo each other.
4. Examples:
Subtraction
• Addition and _____________
are inverse operations
• Multiplication and _________
Division
are inverse operations
Expressions
• An expression can be a term or a
collection of terms separated by
addition or subtraction signs.
• Expressions do not include an equal
sign!
• Examples : 2x + 1
3y
Equations
• An equation is a mathematical sentence
stating that two expressions are equal.
– Example:
2x + 1 = 4
•The expressions are equal to one another.
5. Expression or Equation?
A. 4d – 6 Expression
B. 3x = 6 Equation
C. 3b
Expression
D. a/6
Expression
E. y/2 + 3 = 7 Equation