2007-04-09 08:49:50 · 6 answers · asked by super duper! 1 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Mathematics
the first number or letter in an equation
2007-04-09 08:52:41 · answer #1 · answered by Purple Monkey Refridgerator! 3 · 0⤊ 2⤋
In Algebra, a coefficient is a number that precedes a variable (or a product of variables) or stands alone as a term in a polynomial.
For example: the numbers 6, 3 and 4 are the coefficients in the polynomial 6x^2 + 3x + 4 (the 4 is more commonly called the constant)
A leading coefficient is the coefficient that precedes all others in a polynomial (when the polynomial is written in descending order).
In the polynomial 5x^2 + 4x + 7 .. the leading coefficent is 5.
2007-04-09 09:01:45 · answer #2 · answered by suesysgoddess 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
The number in front of a variable
4x^2+ 3x+5
the leading coeficient would be 4, 3 and 5
2007-04-09 08:53:08 · answer #3 · answered by B9O9R9I9C9U9A 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋
The number in front of the x.
Example:
The leading coefficient of 3x is 3.
The coefficient of 24x^2 is 24.
In long equations with more than one term, it's the number in front of the x with the highest power.
Example:
3x^2+2x+6
Leading Coefficient is 3.
Here's a website if my example didn't work: http://www.mathwords.com/l/leading_coefficient.htm
2007-04-09 08:55:12 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
A leading coefficient is a constant preceding a variable, or with parentheses, a constant preceding the parentheses.
Embedded and trailing coefficients can easily be misunderstood as exponents or subscripts if a text editor cannot display vertical offsets, so by convention we use leading coefficients:
2007-04-09 09:00:58 · answer #5 · answered by Helmut 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It is the first constant in front of the variable with the highest degree.
ex.
x^3+2 LC is 1
4x^2+2X+3 LC is 4
2007-04-09 08:54:46 · answer #6 · answered by jnjn 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋