Final answer:
Coefficients in algebraic expressions, like 5b, -7k, and 2q, are the numbers that multiply the variables. These are used to solve for unknown variables using algebra, which is different from their role in chemical equations.
Step-by-step explanation:
The question involves understanding algebraic expressions, particularly coefficients. In algebraic expressions, such as 5b, –7k, and 2q, the numbers 5, -7, and 2 are called coefficients. These are the numbers that multiply the variables (b, k, q). Coefficients are important because they determine the quantity of each variable in the expression.
Whenever you have an algebraic expression with just one variable missing, you can use algebra to solve for that unknown variable. For example, if we know the values of all variables except for q in an expression, we can manipulate the expression algebraically to solve for q.
To clarify, in chemical equations, the term 'coefficient' has a different meaning. Here, coefficients are the numbers that precede the formulas of reactants or products, showing how many molecules participate in the reaction. This is different from the algebraic coefficients, which are not related to chemical reactions.