Math Is Fun Forum

  Discussion about math, puzzles, games and fun.   Useful symbols: ÷ × ½ √ ∞ ≠ ≤ ≥ ≈ ⇒ ± ∈ Δ θ ∴ ∑ ∫ • π ƒ -¹ ² ³ °

You are not logged in.

#26 2014-06-13 11:22:41

ShivamS
Member
Registered: 2011-02-07
Posts: 3,648

Re: Coefficient vs Constant

I think the way it should be is if we have a number a, we can't say it is a coefficient. 2 is not a coefficient. However, I think we can say that 2 is a coefficient of 2x^0.

Offline

#27 2014-06-13 11:25:16

anonimnystefy
Real Member
From: Harlan's World
Registered: 2011-05-23
Posts: 16,049

Re: Coefficient vs Constant

2 can be a coefficient based on the context.


“Here lies the reader who will never open this book. He is forever dead.
“Taking a new step, uttering a new word, is what people fear most.” ― Fyodor Dostoyevsky, Crime and Punishment
The knowledge of some things as a function of age is a delta function.

Offline

#28 2014-06-13 11:25:53

ShivamS
Member
Registered: 2011-02-07
Posts: 3,648

Re: Coefficient vs Constant

How about this:

2

Is that a coefficient? I think most people would say 2 on it's own is not one (that's just my thinking).

Offline

#29 2014-06-13 11:27:11

anonimnystefy
Real Member
From: Harlan's World
Registered: 2011-05-23
Posts: 16,049

Re: Coefficient vs Constant

Hm, then how would you say that 2 is a coefficient when you write 2x+1?


“Here lies the reader who will never open this book. He is forever dead.
“Taking a new step, uttering a new word, is what people fear most.” ― Fyodor Dostoyevsky, Crime and Punishment
The knowledge of some things as a function of age is a delta function.

Offline

#30 2014-06-13 11:27:40

ShivamS
Member
Registered: 2011-02-07
Posts: 3,648

Re: Coefficient vs Constant

I would say that 2 is a coefficient of x in that expression.

Offline

#31 2014-06-13 11:29:17

anonimnystefy
Real Member
From: Harlan's World
Registered: 2011-05-23
Posts: 16,049

Re: Coefficient vs Constant

Then I could say that 1 is the coefficient f x^0 in that polynomial.


“Here lies the reader who will never open this book. He is forever dead.
“Taking a new step, uttering a new word, is what people fear most.” ― Fyodor Dostoyevsky, Crime and Punishment
The knowledge of some things as a function of age is a delta function.

Offline

#32 2014-06-13 11:30:52

ShivamS
Member
Registered: 2011-02-07
Posts: 3,648

Re: Coefficient vs Constant

Me too. But I wouldn't say 1 on it's on is a coefficient.

According to Wikipedia

Wikipedia wrote:

For instance in 7x^2-3xy+1.5+y the first two terms respectively have the coefficients 7 and −3. The third term 1.5 is a constant.

Offline

#33 2014-06-13 11:34:27

anonimnystefy
Real Member
From: Harlan's World
Registered: 2011-05-23
Posts: 16,049

Re: Coefficient vs Constant

Well, then you couodn't say 2 is a coefficient when talking about the same expression.


“Here lies the reader who will never open this book. He is forever dead.
“Taking a new step, uttering a new word, is what people fear most.” ― Fyodor Dostoyevsky, Crime and Punishment
The knowledge of some things as a function of age is a delta function.

Offline

#34 2014-06-13 11:36:37

ShivamS
Member
Registered: 2011-02-07
Posts: 3,648

Re: Coefficient vs Constant

This is what I mean

in 2x + 1, 2 is a coefficient of x

However, 1 is not a coefficient - it is a constant.

In 2x + 1x^2 though, both 2 and 1 are coefficients.

Offline

#35 2014-06-13 11:44:23

ShivamS
Member
Registered: 2011-02-07
Posts: 3,648

Re: Coefficient vs Constant

MathsIsFun wrote:

What does everyone think about that?

To be honest, it isn't too big of an issue. Such terminology discrepancies occur all the time and it is just a matter of convention (e.g. in the UK they use R^d instead of R^n like here in the US in real analysis).

Offline

#36 2014-06-13 11:58:18

anonimnystefy
Real Member
From: Harlan's World
Registered: 2011-05-23
Posts: 16,049

Re: Coefficient vs Constant

That's true. There's no exact notation for the Stirling numbers, for example.

The R^whatever does not seem like too much a problem either, considering it's the R that matters.


“Here lies the reader who will never open this book. He is forever dead.
“Taking a new step, uttering a new word, is what people fear most.” ― Fyodor Dostoyevsky, Crime and Punishment
The knowledge of some things as a function of age is a delta function.

Offline

#37 2014-06-13 12:00:05

ShivamS
Member
Registered: 2011-02-07
Posts: 3,648

Re: Coefficient vs Constant

And I don't think a student will get a mark off on a test for saying 2 is a coefficient or isn't.

Offline

#38 2014-06-13 12:08:08

anonimnystefy
Real Member
From: Harlan's World
Registered: 2011-05-23
Posts: 16,049

Re: Coefficient vs Constant

True. It's very dependant on the content. And it's a very narrow concept, seeing hiw I haven't noticed it being used anywhere besides in polynomials and binomial expansions.

Last edited by anonimnystefy (2014-06-13 12:08:38)


“Here lies the reader who will never open this book. He is forever dead.
“Taking a new step, uttering a new word, is what people fear most.” ― Fyodor Dostoyevsky, Crime and Punishment
The knowledge of some things as a function of age is a delta function.

Offline

#39 2014-06-13 13:10:56

David
Member
From: Bumpkinland
Registered: 2014-04-23
Posts: 3,164

Re: Coefficient vs Constant

Hmm.. From what I know is : If we have 3xy and the question ask what is the coefficient of y then my answer is 3x.
And another example, if we have 34abc and the question ask find the coefficient of 34 then it's abc.


His dominion is an everlasting dominion, Which shall not pass away, And His kingdom the one Which shall not be destroyed.

Offline

#40 2014-06-13 13:12:18

ShivamS
Member
Registered: 2011-02-07
Posts: 3,648

Re: Coefficient vs Constant

Here, we have two different names. The numerical coefficient of 34 in 34abc is abc and the literal coefficient of 34 in 34abc is abc.

Offline

#41 2014-06-13 13:52:34

bobbym
bumpkin
From: Bumpkinland
Registered: 2009-04-12
Posts: 109,606

Re: Coefficient vs Constant

Hi;

MIF wrote:

What does everyone think about that?

Write the definition you like and whomever disagrees, kill them.


In mathematics, you don't understand things. You just get used to them.
If it ain't broke, fix it until it is.
Always satisfy the Prime Directive of getting the right answer above all else.

Offline

#42 2014-06-13 13:54:39

anonimnystefy
Real Member
From: Harlan's World
Registered: 2011-05-23
Posts: 16,049

Re: Coefficient vs Constant

Yay, constructive crticism!


“Here lies the reader who will never open this book. He is forever dead.
“Taking a new step, uttering a new word, is what people fear most.” ― Fyodor Dostoyevsky, Crime and Punishment
The knowledge of some things as a function of age is a delta function.

Offline

#43 2014-06-13 13:58:21

bobbym
bumpkin
From: Bumpkinland
Registered: 2009-04-12
Posts: 109,606

Re: Coefficient vs Constant

No dissent allowed, like in the Middle Ages. What a great time to be alive that must have been.


In mathematics, you don't understand things. You just get used to them.
If it ain't broke, fix it until it is.
Always satisfy the Prime Directive of getting the right answer above all else.

Offline

#44 2014-06-13 14:47:56

anonimnystefy
Real Member
From: Harlan's World
Registered: 2011-05-23
Posts: 16,049

Re: Coefficient vs Constant

It depends on perspective.


“Here lies the reader who will never open this book. He is forever dead.
“Taking a new step, uttering a new word, is what people fear most.” ― Fyodor Dostoyevsky, Crime and Punishment
The knowledge of some things as a function of age is a delta function.

Offline

#45 2014-06-13 23:28:11

MathsIsFun
Administrator
Registered: 2005-01-21
Posts: 7,711

Re: Coefficient vs Constant

I have updated the definition to this:

I wrote:

Coefficient

A number used to multiply a variable.

Example: 6z means 6 times z, and "z" is a variable, so 6 is a coefficient.


Sometimes a letter stands in for the number.

Example: In ax² + bx + c, "x" is a variable, and "a" and "b" are coefficients.

See Definition of Coefficient

Let me know if you feel it can be improved.


"The physicists defer only to mathematicians, and the mathematicians defer only to God ..."  - Leon M. Lederman

Offline

#46 2014-06-13 23:54:28

Agnishom
Real Member
From: Riemann Sphere
Registered: 2011-01-29
Posts: 24,974
Website

Re: Coefficient vs Constant

A number used to multiply a variable

Use instead: Something used to multiply the concerned variable


'And fun? If maths is fun, then getting a tooth extraction is fun. A viral infection is fun. Rabies shots are fun.'
'God exists because Mathematics is consistent, and the devil exists because we cannot prove it'
I'm not crazy, my mother had me tested.

Offline

#47 2014-06-14 00:00:43

anonimnystefy
Real Member
From: Harlan's World
Registered: 2011-05-23
Posts: 16,049

Re: Coefficient vs Constant

Yes, that way, the definition encompasses stuff like (k^2+1)x+2.


“Here lies the reader who will never open this book. He is forever dead.
“Taking a new step, uttering a new word, is what people fear most.” ― Fyodor Dostoyevsky, Crime and Punishment
The knowledge of some things as a function of age is a delta function.

Offline

Board footer

Powered by FluxBB