What are coefficients and subscripts?

Answer 1

Coefficients are the numbers attached to variables in algebraic equations. If there is no number attached to the variable it is an understood 1. These numbers are multiplied with the variables. When you solve for the variable and put that value back into the algebraic equation in place of the variable it must make the equation true.

Subscripts are numbers that are written at the bottom right of a value (variable/ number). They look similar to exponents except they are below the value. They are used as identification so you can distinguish where the value came from. Having them below the value keeps the subscripts from getting mixed up with exponents.

For example when you are talking about finding the slope of a line you first choose 2 points.

Points are labeled by an ordered set of numbers that specify the exact location of the point. Lines are graphed in 2-dimensions so there are 2 numbers used to identify the point. the first number refers to the horizontal placement of the point from the origin of the graph (the point where the 2 axes intersect) and the second number refers to the vertical placement of the point. We write the ordered numbers in parentheses ex (2, 3) would mean the point is 2 units to the right of the origin and 3 units up from the origin.

In algebra we refer to the coordinates (ordered numbers) of a point as (x, y).

When we talk about finding the slope of a line we find the ratio of: the difference (subtraction) of the y-values to the difference of the x-values. When writing and using formulas it is necessary to keep track of where the variables came from. For slope we are using 2 points so we have to keep track of which x- and y-value belong to the 1st point and which ones belong to the 2nd point. This is where subscripts come into use. They help identify where the variables came from and will not be confused with exponents

Answer 2

Coefficients are numbers placed in front of chemical formulas to indicate the relative amount of each substance in a reaction. Subscripts are numbers written at the bottom right of an element's symbol in a chemical formula to show the number of atoms of that element in a compound.

Answer 3

coefficients are the normal-sized numbers that go to the left of the formulas and subscripts are the tiny numbers to the right of an atom/ion in a compound