Koefizient

Koefizijent, or coefficient, is a numerical factor that multiplies a variable or a term in a mathematical expression or equation. It indicates how much the variable contributes to the value of the term.

In algebra, coefficients occur in polynomials and linear expressions. For example, in 4x^3 - 2x^2 + 7x + 1, the coefficients of the variable terms are 4, -2 and 7; the constant term 1 has no variable. The leading coefficient is the coefficient of the highest-degree term, here 4 for x^3.

In linear algebra, coefficients form matrices that multiply unknowns. A system such as ax + by = c and dx + ey = f uses the coefficient matrix [[a, b], [d, e]] to organize the numbers that scale the variables.

In physics and related fields, coefficients often serve as proportionality constants or properties that relate quantities, such as the friction coefficient μ, the drag coefficient Cd, or the thermal expansion coefficient α. These numbers quantify how strongly quantities are related and may depend on conditions like temperature or speed.

In statistics, coefficients measure relationships between variables, including the correlation coefficient r and regression coefficients that describe the influence of predictors in a model. Across disciplines, koefizijenti provide a concise way to express how changes in one quantity affect another.