Question

How do you identify the variable, constant and coefficient of the expression: \[ - 10k + 15\] ?

Answer 1

Hint: We are given an algebraic expression with two terms in which we have to identify the variable, constant and coefficient. In an algebraic expression, the letters represent the variables, the value of which can be changed. Constants are the terms in an expression that includes only numbers, the value of which does not change. Coefficient of a variable is the number written along with the variable in the term.

Complete step-by-step solution:
In the algebraic expression given we have two terms $ - 10k$ and $15$. Such expressions having only two terms are known as binomial expressions.
Now we have to observe the given expression and identify the variable, constant and coefficient.
In the expression we see an alphabet $k$. As we know that the letters represent variables, so the variable in this expression is $k$.
Further, the second term of the expression $15$ contains only numbers and does not contain any variable. Thus, the term $15$ is constant.
The first term also contains a number, but along with the number it contains the variable $k$. So it is not a constant term. The value of the first term will change as we change the value of $k$.
We see the number $ - 10$ written along with the variable $k$ in the first term. We can say that the coefficient of the variable $k$ is $ - 10$.
Thus, in the given expression \[ - 10k + 15\],
Variable is $k$, constant is $15$, and coefficient is $ - 10$.

Note: The value of the constant term does not change. A variable can take any value, i.e. the value of a variable can change. The value of coefficient does not change but the value of the term containing the variable and coefficient can change due to the change in the value of the variable.