what are constants?

Question

I am about to begin my last class before completing my Bachelors degree. I have never taken algebra and must learn quickly in order to understand course work in "Survey of Mathematical Methods." What does "constant" mean as it relates to algebra?

Answer 1

Theresa...I wish you well and glad you asked your question. As a teacher, I work to make sure my students comprehend math vocabulary. I find that if students don't know what math words mean, how can one begin to solve a problem. Just quickly...I would suggestion you understand these terms, because it will help you understand what the terms constant, variable, and coefficient mean...even though you only asked about the term 'constant' these three words go hand-in-hand. To start with, I hope these terms mean something to you, real numbers, irrational numbers, integers, and whole numbers. Basically... real numbers(basically any number...-100, 0, 1/2, square root of 2, 100..) irrational numbers(square/cubed...roots, fractions, decimals...) integers(all negative/positive WHOLE numbers, including ZERO...no fractions or decimals) whole numbers(all positive whole numbers, not zero, no decimals/fractions) ALL of these at one time or another are constants. These symbols will aways represent only that number. The symbol 3 will ALWAYS represent 3, tres, III, drei(German),???a(Greek),San(Japanese), or whatever language one uses...the symbol 3 will never be 4,or the squareroot of 31, 1,000,000, -875, 0, 11/57 Any symbol which represents a number will ALWAYS BE THAT NUMBER...thus...A CONSTANT. Now, a variable is any symbol, letter, figure, teddy bear, or whatever(other that the number itself)...which represents a real number: example x, m + n, x^n...$, -k, or whatever. And lastly, a coefficient is the real number in front of a variable:example -34x, 11y/462, (0.56m + 1), because for whatever the variable is, any real number, it will affect the coefficient, even if it is zero. Hope this helps...and is not too confusing...probably too much information, but these are the kinds of terms you will need to understand when learning algebra Continue to ask questions...then you will be the MASTER

Answer 2

Constants are simply a number.  A value that is considered constant.  example 1, 2, or 3.

As an example:

Variables are symbols for values that can change, such as y = x^2, where we have two variables x and y.  x isn't defined as a specific number or value, so it can change.  y is directly associated with x's value, so it changes as well.

if we rewrite the equation to say y = 2x^2 + 9, 2 and 9 are constants.  we still have the two variables, x and y, but 2 and 9 will always be 2 and 9.  they don't change or can't be substituted for different values.