Find the Coefficient: What is 'c' in 4x^2 + 9x - 2?

The c coefficient is the constant term in standard form $ax^2 + bx + c$. It's the number with no variable attached to it. In $4x^2 + 9x - 2$, that's -2.

Position in the equation doesn't determine the coefficient name! The coefficient names (a, b, c) are based on which term they belong to, not their order. The 4 is coefficient 'a' because it's with $x^2$.

The coefficients stay the same! Whether you write $4x^2 + 9x - 2$ or $-2 + 9x + 4x^2$, the c coefficient is still -2 because it's the constant term.

Think alphabetically! a goes with $x^2$ (highest power), b goes with $x$ (middle power), and c is the constant (no variable power).

If you don't see a constant term, then c = 0! For example, in $3x^2 + 5x$, we can write it as $3x^2 + 5x + 0$, so c = 0.