A coefficient, often referred to as a factor, is a numerical value that multiplies a variable in mathematical expressions. For example, in the equation 2x + 3, the number 2 is the coefficient of the variable x. Coefficients can be positive, negative, or even zero, and they help determine the strength and direction of the relationship between variables in equations. In statistics, coefficients are used in various models, such as linear regression, to quantify the impact of independent variables on a dependent variable. A higher coefficient indicates a stronger influence, while a coefficient close to zero suggests a weak or negligible effect. Understanding coefficients is essential for interpreting data and making predictions.