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Letters represent an unknown or generic real number
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Sometimes with restrictions, such as a member of a
certain set, or the set of values that makes an equation true.
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Often a letter from the end of the alphabet: x, y,
z
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Or a letter that stands for a physical quantity: d
for distance, t for time, etc.
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Fixed values, like 2 or 7.
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Can also be represented by letters: a, b,
c, p, e, k
Terms are Separated by + or –
Factors are multiplied together.
Coefficients are constant factors that multiply a variable or powers of a variable
The middle term has 2 factors, –3 and x. We say that the coefficient
of x is –3.
The first term has three factors, 2 and two factors of x. We say that
2 is the coefficient of x2.
The last term is a factor all by itself (although the number 4 could be
factored into 2 ´ 2).
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