Question Video: Determining the Value of the Constant Term of an Algebraic Expression Mathematics • Third Year of Preparatory School

Video Transcript

What is the constant term in the expression four 𝑥 minus 𝑦 squared plus 27?

To answer this question, we first need to recall what we mean by the constant term in an expression. First, a constant is something whose value does not change. For example, in our expression, we call 𝑥 and 𝑦 variables because they can take on many different values. However, a number like 27 doesn’t change as our values of 𝑥 or 𝑦 change. It’s always equal to 27.

Next, we also need to remember what we mean by a term. In this context, when we say a term, we mean the parts we’re adding together to make our expression. So, four 𝑥 is a term, negative 𝑦 squared is a term, and 27 is a term. Alternatively, we can think of each monomial as a term. We can see that four 𝑥 is varying as the value of 𝑥 changes and 𝑦 squared is changing as the value of 𝑦 changes. So, only 27 remains constant. Therefore, the constant term in the expression four 𝑥 minus 𝑦 squared plus 27 is 27.