Coefficients

The word coefficient means “joining together to produce a result.” It comes from co- meaning “together” and efficient meaning “producing a result.”

A coefficient is a number that is multiplied to a variable. The number and the variable are joined and together produce the result in an equation.

In a linear equation such as $y = 2x + 1$ the $x$ term has a coefficient of $2$ .

In this linear equation, $y = -7x - 5$ the $x$ term has a coefficient of $-7$ .

In a quadratic equation such as $y = x^2 + 5x + 6$ , the $x^2$ term has a coefficient of $1$ and the $x$ term has a coefficient of $5$ .

In $y = 2x^2 + 6x + 3$ , the $x^2$ term has a coefficient of $2$ and the $x$ term has a coefficient of $6$ .