Question

What is the coefficient of y in the expression$8-3y+1$

Short answer

The coefficient of y is –3.

Step-by-step solution

Step-1 – Apply the concept of terms and like terms

In an algebraic expression, terms are separated by plus or minus signs.

The term coefficient refers to the number in front of the variable in any term of the expression.

A constantterm is the number which have no variable associated with it.

Like terms are the terms which have identical variable parts with same exponent on it.

Step-2 – Example of coefficient

In the expression, $3-5x+2$, observe that there are three terms 3, –5x and 2 which are separated by plus signs.

So, the terms of the given expression are 3x, 2, and 5x.

The only term with variable is –5x. Observe that the number in front of variable is –5, so the coefficient in this expression is –5.

Step-3 – Identify the coefficient of y

Coefficients are the numbers associated with the variable in any term of the expression.

In the given expression$8-3y+1$, the only variable term is –3y.

So, the coefficients coefficient of y in the given expression is –3.