Algebra Vocabulary

Vocabulary book

VariableCoefficient

TermConstant

Numerical ExpressionAlgebraic Expression

EquationInequality

BaseExponent

Variable

Definition: A letter that can be

replaced by a number.

Example:4x (x is the variable)

*root word ‘vary’ means different

Coefficient

Definition: A number multiplied by a

variable or variables.

Example:4x (4 is the coefficient)

*prefix ‘co’ means together

(think of co-worker)

Term

Definition: Numbers or variables

separated by + or – signs.

Example:5x + x – 2

terms

2

Constant

Definition: A term that does not have

a variable.

Example:5x + 2y + 4

constant

*constant means remains the same (no variable

gets multiplied)

Numerical Expression

Definition: Two or more terms using

only constants.

Example:2 + 3 – 5

*root word ‘number’ (only numbers)

3

Algebraic Expression

Definition: Two or more terms that

include one or more variables.

Example:2x + 5 – 7

*root word ‘algebra’ (has at least 1 variable)

2

Equation

Definition: Two algebraic expressions

connected by an equal sign.

Example: 4x = 8

*root word ‘equal’ hence equal sign

Inequality

Definition: Two algebraic expressions

connected with one of these signs: ≠, ≤, ≥, ˂, ˃.

Example: 7x ˂ 30 or x ≠ 6

*prefix ‘in’ means not, hence not equal

Base

Definition: The number used as a

factor.

Example:6

base

3

Exponent

Definition: The number of times the

base is multiplied by itself.

Example:6

exponent

3