LITERAL COEFFICIENT
\lˈɪtəɹə͡l kˌə͡ʊɪfˈɪʃənt], \lˈɪtəɹəl kˌəʊɪfˈɪʃənt], \l_ˈɪ_t_ə_ɹ_əl k_ˌəʊ_ɪ_f_ˈɪ_ʃ_ə_n_t]\
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[L.] The number prefixed to an algebraical symbol to show how many times the number denoted by that symbol is to be taken. Thus, if x denotes any number, known or unknown, 10x signifies a number that is ten times x, and 10 is said to be the coefficient of x in the expression 10x. A coefficient is not necessarily a whole number; it may be a fractional or incommensurable number, or even a number which is a combination of algebraical symbols, so that there are literal coefficients as well as numerical coefficients.
By Henry Percy Smith
