Learn Before
Example

Identifying Coefficients of Terms

To find a term's coefficient, look for the numerical factor attached to the variable:

  • The coefficient of $14yisis{14}, since{14}is the constant multiplied byy$.
  • The coefficient of15x215x^2is15,since15istheconstantmultipliedbyx2{15}, since{15}is the constant multiplied byx^2.
  • The coefficient ofaais1,becauseaisthesameas1awhennonumberisexplicitlywritten,thecoefficientisunderstoodtobe1{1}, becauseais the same as1 \cdot a—when no number is explicitly written, the coefficient is understood to be{1}.

This pattern holds regardless of the exponent on the variable: the coefficient is always the numerical factor in front.

0

1

Updated 2026-04-21

Contributors are:

Who are from:

Tags

OpenStax

Elementary Algebra @ OpenStax

Ch.1 Foundations - Elementary Algebra @ OpenStax

Algebra

Math

Prealgebra

Related
Learn After