What are letters called that represent the values in an equation?

In mathematical equations, letters that represent values that can change or vary are referred to as variables. Variables are essential as they allow for the representation of a range of values and are often used to express general relationships in equations. For example, in the equation ( y = mx + b ), both ( x ) and ( y ) are variables that can take different values, which allows for the exploration of different scenarios within the equation.

Constants are fixed values that do not change, such as numeric values like 3 or -5. Coefficients are specific to the terms in an equation and refer to the numerical factors that multiply a variable (like the number in front of a variable, e.g., ( m ) in the equation). Expressions are combinations of variables, constants, operators, and functions, but they do not exclusively refer to the letters that symbolize varying values. Variables, by definition, specifically capture the idea of changeable values within mathematical contexts, making them integral to the construction and solution of equations.