Chapter/Index: Introduction | A | B | C | D | E | F | G | H | I | J | K | L | M | N | O | P | Q | R | S | T | U | V | W | X | Y | Z | Appendix
| In mathematics, a coefficient is a multiplicative factor in an expression or a series. For instance, an equation is The first three terms have coefficients 5, −4, and 1 respectively. The fourth term 3 is a constant. x and y are variables. On the other hand, the coefficients can also be given by some symbols in many cases, for instance, where, a, b, and c are coefficients and d is a constant. In physics and chemistry, the quantities which are used to describe the properties of materials and solutions (under specified conditions) are simply represented as coefficients, i.e. as one measured (or measurable) quantity divided by another. For instance, the property (coefficient) of electrical conductivity is given by the value of electrical current (flowing between two points) divided by the electrical potential gradient.
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