3/8/2017 GlossaryofTerms|Coursera

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A variable is an entity that can take on dierent values.

A constant is an entity that does not change and is therefore the opposite of a variable.

A constant joined to a variable is called the coecient or parameter of the variable.

An exogenous variable is by denition one whose value is wholly causally independent

from other variables in the system (or model or equation).

An endogenous variable is a classication of a variable generated by a statistical model

that is explained by the relationships between functions within the model.

An equation is two expressions that are equal to one another.

The solution to an equation is the number that can be substituted for the unknown
variable and that makes the equation true.

A ratio is a quotient of two quantities. . It is normally used to compare the quantities. The
ratio of the number a to the number b is can be written as:

This last way is most common in mathematics, and this is what you will see through the
MOOC. The writing a:b is more commonly used in business.

Logarithm - a quantity representing the power to which a xed number (the base) must
be raised to produce a given number.

The domain of a function is the complete set of possible values of the independent
variable.

The range of a function is the complete set of all possible resulting values of the
dependent variable (y, usually), after we have substituted the domain

A function is a rule that relates how one quantity depends on other quantities.

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3/8/2017 GlossaryofTerms|Coursera

Derivatives are a fundamental tool of calculus. The derivative of a function of a real

variable measures the sensitivity to change of a quantity (a function value or dependent
variable) which is determined by another quantity (the independent variable).

Dierentiation is an operation that allows to nd a function that outputs the rate of

change of one variable with respect to another variable.

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