Lesson 6, Topic 2
In Progress

# Coefficient of Terms

Lesson Progress
0% Complete

Recall that a quadratic expression has 2 as its highest power.

A quadratic expression is also known as a polynomial of the second degree.

The general form of a quadratic expression is

$$\scriptsize ax^2 + bx + c$$

Where (a ≠ 0)

a is not equal to zero.

where a, b and c represent any number

a is called the coefficient of  x

b is called the coefficient of x

c is a constant term.

Example

Write down the coefficient of x2x, and the constant in the following expressions.

a. x + 3x + 1

$$\scriptsize ax^2 + bx + c$$ compare coefficients

a = 1, b = 3, c = 1

b. 2x– 8

$$\scriptsize ax^2 + bx + c$$ compare coefficients

We can see that we only have a and c after comparing coefficients.

a = 2 and c = – 8

c. 7xx – 2

$$\scriptsize ax^2 + bx + c$$ compare coefficients

a = 7,  b =  -1,    c =  -2

d. 4x– 6x + 4

$$\scriptsize ax^2 + bx + c$$ compare coefficients

a = 4,   b = -6,   c =  4

e. (x – 1)(x – 2)

= x(x – 2) -1(x – 2)

= x2 – 2xx + 2

= x2 – 3x + 2

$$\scriptsize ax^2 + bx + c$$ compare coefficients

a = 1,   b = -3,   c = 2

error: