In layman's terms: A coefficient is simply the number before an algebraic variable or term. In technical 'math speak', the coefficient is a constant.
| Algebraic expression | The expression's coefficient |
|---|---|
| 3x | 3 |
| 5 y | 5 |
| 11x2 | 11 |
| 11xy | 11 (remember the coefficient must be a number) |
| x |
1
* Whenever the coefficient is '1', it is generally not written. (This is explained by the multiplicative identity) |
| 4xyk | 4 |
| $$ \frac{3}{4} $$ xyk | $$ \frac{3}{4} $$ |
| xy |
1
(Again when the coefficient is 1 people normally do not write the '1') |
| $$ \pi $$6 | $$ \pi $$ |
