Final answer:
A coefficient is a number used to multiply a variable in an equation.
Step-by-step explanation:
A variable is the name given to a quantity that may assume a range of values. In mathematics, when a number is used to multiply a variable, it is called a coefficient. Coefficients can be any number, positive or negative, and can affect the value and behavior of the variable in an equation.
For example, in the equation 3x = 12, the coefficient of x is 3. When x is multiplied by 3, it equals 12. Similarly, in the equation -2y = 6, the coefficient of y is -2. When y is multiplied by -2, it equals 6.