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Mathematics 20 Online
OpenStudy (sparklyme):

WILL MEDAL AND FAN!!! Can someone please clarify the definition of a constant? I know that the definition is: a number or letter on its own to stand as a fixed number Can someone please clarify this for me and give an example? Is it the same as a variable?

OpenStudy (dayakar):

height of the statue of liberty .is a constant [fixed ] value which never changes is constant age of any person is a variable [changes]

OpenStudy (sparklyme):

@dayakar ohhh...thanks!

OpenStudy (mathmale):

A constant is definitely different from a variable. A variable, such as x, could take on any value within the domain of a function. A constant, such as 5, never changes. In the example x^2=10x+y^2-4y+20=0, x and y are variables, and -20 is a (free-standing) constant, and 10 and 4 are constant coefficients.

OpenStudy (sparklyme):

@mathmale @dayakar thanks guys! this is making A LOT more sense!!!

OpenStudy (mathmale):

I'm so glad to hear that! Best wishes to you.

OpenStudy (phi):

"constant" makes the most sense when you realize it is "part" of an expression or equation. People want to talk about the parts of an equation, and give names to the different parts. So to really understand it, you have to understand what an equation (for example) is, and sometimes that idea is confusing to people

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