Algebra Made Simple
A table defining variable, constant, parameter and constant of integration, showing how confusingly similar they are.
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Free for classrooms, worksheets, slides and other non-commercial use under CC BY-NC 4.0, with credit to Ben Orlin.
Cartoon by Ben Orlin, Math with Bad Drawings. https://cartoons.mathwithbaddrawings.com/2021-01-01-algebra-made-simple/ (CC BY-NC 4.0)Transcript
[Title] "Algebra Made Simple" A: "You call this 'simple'?" B: "Yes. As in, 'irreducible.'"
[Table: Term / Examples / Meaning] variable (x, y, z): not a specific number; may be any number whatsoever · constant (a, b, c): a specific number (which may be any number whatsoever) · parameter (k, m, n): a variable that acts like a constant, or in other situations, a constant that acts like a variable · constant of integration (C, C, C): a specific number, and later, without warning, a different specific number