Coefficient

/ˌkoʊəˈfɪʃənt/ noun

Definition

A coefficient is a number or constant placed in front of a variable in math, showing how many times that variable is taken. In science, it can also mean a value that measures how strongly two things are related.

Etymology

It comes from New Latin “coefficientem,” from Latin “co-” (together) and “efficiens” (producing), related to “efficient.” The idea is of something that “works together” with a variable to produce a result.

Kelly Says

A coefficient isn’t just a random number in front of x; it’s literally the “co‑worker” that teams up with the variable to create the outcome. In statistics, those little coefficients quietly encode how strongly real‑world factors pull on each other.

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