INTRODUCTION TO ALGEBRAIC

EXPRESSIONS, CONSTANT AND VARIABLES

Objectives:
1. Define the following:
a. constant
b. variable
c. coefficient
d. term
e. algebraic expressions; and

2. Identify the constant, variable, coefficient and number of terms

 COLUMN A
Number of eggs in a dozen
Number of minutes in an hour
Length of a meter
COLUMN B
Number of person’s heartbeat per
minute
Number of enrollees in your school
each year
Electric bill per month

1. What is common in Column A? Column B?

2. What makes this two groups different?
3. Can you add/give more examples in Column A? Column B?
 COLUMN A
Number of eggs in a dozen
Number of minutes in an hour
Length of a meter
COLUMN B
Number of person’s heartbeat per
minute
Number of enrollees in your school
each year
Electric bill per month

Fixed value Different value

CONSTANT VARIABLE

1. What is common in Column A? Column B?

2. What makes this two groups different?
3. Can you add/give more examples in Column A? Column B?
 ALGEBRAIC EXPRESSIONS
 Isany combination of one or more constants and variables along with at least
one mathematical operation.
 Consists of one or more terms separated by plus (+) or minus (-) signs.

- is any number or symbol representing one fixed value.

CONSTAN
T 𝑥+ 4 the constant is 4
2 𝑥 −3 the constant is -3

VARIABL - is any letter or symbol that changes its value.

E 𝑚+ 4 the variable is m
4 𝑥𝑦 − 7 the variables are x and y
 VARIABLE
List all the possible values of the variable.

1. m is a negative integer greater than -3

2. a is the age of a teenager

3. d is a multiple of 2 less than 10

4. x is a prime number les than 15

5. y is a factor of 9
 VARIABLE
List all the possible values of the variable.

1. m is a negative integer greater than -3

2. a is the age of a teenager

3. d is a multiple of 2 less than 10

4. x is a prime number les than 15

5. y is a factor of 9
 ALGEBRAIC EXPRESSIONS
COEFFICIE numerical coefficient literal coefficient
NT (number part) (letter part including exponents)
2𝑥 2 𝑥
5 𝑚𝑛 5 𝑚𝑛
10 𝑠 𝑡
2 10 𝑠𝑡
2

LEADING
COEFFICIENT
2
10 𝑠 𝑡 + 4 𝑠𝑡 −7
the leading coefficient is 10
−5 𝑚𝑛 +8 the leading coefficient is -5
3 2
9 𝑥 +6 𝑥 −12 𝑥 the leading coefficient is 9
 ALGEBRAIC EXPRESSIONS
TER
M - is a constant, variable, or a product of two separated by
plus or minus.

Number of Terms Leading Term

2
10 𝑠 𝑡 − 4 𝑠𝑡 +7 3 10 𝑠 𝑡
2

5 𝑚𝑛+ 8 2 5 𝑚𝑛
3 2
9 𝑥 +6 𝑥 −12 𝑥 −3 4 9𝑥
3
 ALGEBRAIC EXPRESSIONS
2
9 𝑠 𝑡 − 4 𝑠𝑡+7

Constant 7 Leading Term 9 𝑠𝑡

2

Variable/s 𝑠,𝑡
Leading
Coefficient 9
Numerical
9 𝑎𝑛𝑑 − 4
Coefficient/s
Number of
Terms 3
Literal 2
Coefficient/s
𝑠𝑡 𝑎𝑛𝑑𝑠𝑡
 TEST YOURSELF
Describe whether each quantity is constant or variable.

1. Days in a week.

2. Scores in a test.

3. Sides of a pentagon.

4. Age every year.

5. Months in a year.
 TEST YOURSELF
ALGEBRAIC CON VARIA LEADIN LEADING NO. OF OPER
EXPRESSION STAN BLE G COEFFICI TERM ATION
S T TERM ENT S S
 TEST YOURSELF
Describe whether each quantity is constant or variable.

1. Days in a week. constant

2. Scores in a test. variable

3. Sides of a pentagon. constant

4. Age every year. variable

5. Months in a year. constant

 TEST YOURSELF
ALGEBRAIC CON VARIA LEADIN LEADING NO. OF OPER
EXPRESSION STAN BLE G COEFFICI TERM ATION
S T TERM ENT S S