Constant
Definition
A constant is a number with fixed value, unlike a variable that can change or that is used to represent an unknown value.
The word constant is also used in other contexts or as part of other expressions:
Constant function
A constant function is a function which has a constant output: the value of the function does not depend on the value of its input. Equivalently, a constant function is a function whose range has only a single value.
Constant term of a polynomial
The constant term of a polynomial in variables is the coefficient of
. In the case of a polynomial in a single variable
, it is the coefficient of the term
. Normally, when we write out a polynomial, the constant term is the term with no variables present, e.g. for the polynomial
, the constant term is
.
Note that in general, the constant term of a polynomial is simply the value
.
Examples
, or pi is a famous constant that is approximately 3.14159.
, or e is another famous constant that is approximately 2.71828.
All numbers are constants because they do not change their value; they always remain the same.