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In mathematics, a variable (from Latin variabilis, "changeable") is a symbol, typically a letter, that refers to an unspecified mathematical object. [ 1 ] [ 2 ] [ 3 ] One says colloquially that the variable represents or denotes the object, and that any valid candidate for the object is the value of the variable.
An expression is often used to define a function, by taking the variables to be arguments, or inputs, of the function, and assigning the output to be the evaluation of the resulting expression. [5] For example, x ↦ x 2 + 1 {\displaystyle x\mapsto x^{2}+1} and f ( x ) = x 2 + 1 {\displaystyle f(x)=x^{2}+1} define the function that associates ...
Variable binding relates three things: a variable v, a location a for that variable in an expression and a non-leaf node n of the form Q(v, P). Note: we define a location in an expression as a leaf node in the syntax tree. Variable binding occurs when that location is below the node n. In the lambda calculus, x is a bound variable in the term M ...
In mathematics, an algebraic expression is an expression built up from constants (usually, algebraic numbers) variables, and the basic algebraic operations: addition (+), subtraction (-), multiplication (×), division (÷), whole number powers, and roots (fractional powers).
In mathematics, a polynomial is a mathematical expression consisting of indeterminates (also called variables) and coefficients, that involves only the operations of addition, subtraction, multiplication and exponentiation to nonnegative integer powers, and has a finite number of terms.
Algebra is the branch of mathematics that studies certain abstract systems, known as algebraic structures, and the manipulation of expressions within those systems. It is a generalization of arithmetic that introduces variables and algebraic operations other than the standard arithmetic operations, such as addition and multiplication.
The term Variable is relevant to several contexts, and is especially important to mathematics and computer science. Scientists and engineers will often use mathematical variables in formulae and equations, such as E = m c 2; they will also have their own special uses of the term. The term Variable can also occur in other contexts, such as ...
Over a variable name, means that the variable represents a vector, in a context where ordinary variables represent scalars; for example, . Boldface ( v {\displaystyle \mathbf {v} } ) or a circumflex ( v ^ {\displaystyle {\hat {v}}} ) are often used for the same purpose.