Question

What is the difference between a constant and a coefficient?

Answer 1

Hint: In this problem, we have to differentiate the terms constant and coefficient. We should first know what is the exact meaning for the both terms to differentiate them. We know that a constant is defined as a fixed value, which is used in algebraic expressions and equations whereas a coefficient is a real number in front of a variable. We can now see the difference between them in brief.

Complete step by step solution:
Here we have to write the difference between a constant and a coefficient.
We know that a coefficient is a real number in front of a variable that determines the value of the terms in a mathematical expression where as a constant is a number that has a fixed value and its value does not change over time.
We should know that if two properties are said to be correlated and if the value of a thing remains same over a time then it is said to be a constant and if its value changes depending upon a condition, it is said to be a variable and needs to be multiplied with the coefficient to calculate its value.
We can now write an example.
A coefficient is a number in front of a variable,
\[= 3{{x}^{3}}\]
Where 3 is the coefficient.
A constant is just a number in an equation,
\[=3{{x}^{2}}+4\]
Where 4 is a constant.

Note: We should always remember that if two properties are said to be correlated and if the value of a thing remains same over a time then it is said to be a constant and if its value changes depending upon a condition, it is said to be a variable and needs to be multiplied with the coefficient to calculate its value.