Algebraic Expressions Vocabulary

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What is an algebraic expression?

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An algebraic expression is a mathematical phrase that includes numbers, variables, and operations (like addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division). For example, 3x + 5 is an algebraic expression.

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What is a variable in an algebraic expression?

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A variable is a symbol (usually a letter) that represents an unknown value. In the expression 2x + 3, 'x' is the variable.

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What is a coefficient?

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A coefficient is a numerical factor in a term of an algebraic expression. In the term 5x, 5 is the coefficient.

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What is a constant in an algebraic expression?

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A constant is a fixed value that does not change. In the expression 4x + 7, the number 7 is a constant.

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What is a term in an algebraic expression?

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A term is a single mathematical expression that can be a number, a variable, or a combination of both multiplied together. For example, in 3x + 4y - 5, there are three terms: 3x, 4y, and -5.

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What does it mean to simplify an algebraic expression?

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To simplify an algebraic expression means to combine like terms and reduce it to its simplest form. For example, simplifying 3 + 5x + 8 - 2x results in 11 + 3x.

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What is the process of evaluating an expression?

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Evaluating an expression involves substituting a specific value for the variable and performing the operations. For example, to evaluate 2x + 5 when x = 3, substitute 3 for x to get 2(3) + 5 = 11.

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What is an exponent in an algebraic expression?

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An exponent indicates how many times a number (the base) is multiplied by itself. In 4^2, 4 is the base and 2 is the exponent, meaning 4 is multiplied by itself 2 times (4 * 4).

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What is a polynomial?

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A polynomial is an algebraic expression that consists of one or more terms, where each term is a constant, variable, or the product of constants and variables raised to non-negative integer exponents. For example, 2x^2 + 3x + 1 is a polynomial.

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What is a linear expression?

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A linear expression is an algebraic expression of the first degree, meaning it has no exponents greater than 1. For example, 2x + 3 is a linear expression.