# Math Terminology Question

**URL:** <https://discuss.criticalfallibilism.com/t/math-terminology-question/337>\
**Category:** Other\
**Tags:** math\
**Created:** [September 27, 2021, 7:00pm UTC](https://discuss.criticalfallibilism.com/t/math-terminology-question/337 "2021-09-27T19:00:54Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Elliot](https://discuss.criticalfallibilism.com/user_avatar/discuss.criticalfallibilism.com/elliot/32/14_2.png) [@Elliot](https://discuss.criticalfallibilism.com/u/Elliot)\
**Post date:** [September 27, 2021, 7:00pm UTC](https://discuss.criticalfallibilism.com/t/math-terminology-question/337/1 "2021-09-27T19:00:54Z")

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A term like 4xy contains the coefficient (4), also called the numeric part, and the rest (xy). What is the name for the rest? It’s often called the variable, which makes sense for 3x, but there could be multiple variables.

The non-number part is an expression, but I can’t call it _the_ expression because the whole term is also an expression.

Calling it the non-number part is pretty awkward in the CF article I’m writing.

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**Author:** ![anonymous23](https://discuss.criticalfallibilism.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/a/90ced4/32.png) [@anonymous23](https://discuss.criticalfallibilism.com/u/anonymous23)\
**Post date:** [September 27, 2021, 7:04pm UTC](https://discuss.criticalfallibilism.com/t/math-terminology-question/337/2 "2021-09-27T19:04:02Z")

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FWIW this page suggests “variable factors” [Glossary | College Prep Algebra](https://www.collegeprepalgebra.com/cpa2e/category/glossary/?letter=V)

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**Author:** ![anonymous23](https://discuss.criticalfallibilism.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/a/90ced4/32.png) [@anonymous23](https://discuss.criticalfallibilism.com/u/anonymous23)\
**Post date:** [September 27, 2021, 7:06pm UTC](https://discuss.criticalfallibilism.com/t/math-terminology-question/337/3 "2021-09-27T19:06:36Z")

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I’ve also found some uses of the terminology “the literal part of the term” e.g. [Translating Words into Mathematical Symbols](https://studylib.net/doc/8261292/translating-words-into-mathematical-symbols)

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**Author:** ![anonymous23](https://discuss.criticalfallibilism.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/a/90ced4/32.png) [@anonymous23](https://discuss.criticalfallibilism.com/u/anonymous23)\
**Post date:** [September 27, 2021, 7:06pm UTC](https://discuss.criticalfallibilism.com/t/math-terminology-question/337/4 "2021-09-27T19:06:52Z")

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i like variable factors better between those two