Constant (mathematics)

For a more narrow coverage related to this subject, see (in this case, 5) because its argument does not appear in
Mathematical constant.
the expression dening the function.

In mathematics, the adjective constant means nonvarying. The noun constant may have two dierent 2 Context-dependence
meanings. It may refer to a xed and well dened number or other mathematical object. The term mathematical The context-dependent nature of the concept of conconstant (and also physical constant) is sometimes used to stant can be seen in this example from elementary caldistinguish this meaning from the other one. A constant culus:
may also refer to a constant function or its value (it is a
common usage to identify them). Such a constant is commonly represented by a variable which does not depend
d x
2x+h 2x
2h 1
2 = lim
= lim 2x
on the main variable(s) of the studied problem. This is the
h0
h0
dx
h
h
case, for example, for a constant of integration which is
an arbitrary constant function (not depending on the vari2h 1
= 2x lim
sincex on depend not does (
able of integration) added to a particular antiderivative to
h0
h
get all the antiderivatives of the given function.
= 2x constant,
whereconstant on dependin
For example, a general quadratic function is commonly
written as:

Constant means not depending on some variable; not

changing as that variable changes. In the rst case above,
it means not depending on h; in the second, it means not
depending on x.

ax2 + bx + c ,
where a, b and c are constants (or parameters), while x is
the variable, a placeholder for the argument of the function being studied. A more explicit way to denote this
function is

3 Notable mathematical constants

Main article: Mathematical constant

x 7 ax2 + bx + c ,

Some values occur frequently in mathematics and are

which makes the function-argument status of x clear, and conventionally denoted by a specic symbol. These stanthereby implicitly the constant status of a, b and c. In dard symbols and their values are called mathematical
this example a, b and c are coecients of the polynomial. constants. Examples include:
Since c occurs in a term that does not involve x, it is called
the constant term of the polynomial and can be thought of
0 (zero).
as the coecient of x0 ; any polynomial term or expression
1 (one), the natural number after zero.
of degree zero is a constant.[1]:18

(pi), the constant representing the ratio of a circles

circumference to its diameter, approximately equal
to 3.141592653589793238462643...[2]

Constant function

Main articles: Constant function and Nullary

e,
approximately
equal
2.718281828459045235360287...

A constant may be used to dene a constant function that

ignores its arguments and always gives the same value. A
constant function of a single variable, such as f (x) = 5
, has a graph that is a horizontal straight line, parallel to
the x-axis. Such a function always takes the same value

i, the imaginary unit such that i2 = 1.

2 (square root of 2), the length of the diagonal

of a square with unit sides, approximately equal to
1.414213562373095048801688.
1

to

6
(golden ratio), approximately equal to
1.618033988749894848204586,
or algebraically,

1+ 5
.
2

Constants in calculus

In calculus, constants are treated in several dierent ways

depending on the operation. For example, the derivative
of a constant function is zero. This is because the derivative measures the rate of change of a function with respect to a variable, and since constants, by denition, do
not change, their derivative is therefore zero. Conversely,
when integrating a constant function, the constant is multiplied by the variable of integration. During the evaluation of a limit, the constant remains the same as it was
before and after evaluation.
Integration of a function of one variable often involves
a constant of integration. This arises because of the integral operators nature as the inverse of the dierential
operator, meaning the aim of integration is to recover the
original function before dierentiation. The dierential
of a constant function is zero, as noted above, and the
dierential operator is a linear operator, so functions that
only dier by a constant term have the same derivative.
To acknowledge this, a constant of integration is added
to an indenite integral; this ensures that all possible solutions are included. The constant of integration is generally written as 'c' and represents a constant with a xed
but undened value.

4.1

Examples

If f is the constant function such that f (x) = 72 for every

x then
f (x) = 0

f (x)dx = 72x + c

See also
Expression
Physical constant
Constant (disambiguation)

References

[1] Foerster, Paul A. (2006). Algebra and Trigonometry:

Functions and Applications, Teachers Edition (Classics
ed.). Upper Saddle River, NJ: Prentice Hall. ISBN 013-165711-9.

REFERENCES

[2] Arndt, Jrg; Haenel, Christoph (2001). Pi Unleashed.

Springer. p. 240. ISBN 978-3540665724.

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