What is the coefficient in the expression 7x^3 + 4x - 5?

In the expression (7x^3 + 4x - 5), the term "coefficient" refers to the numerical factor that multiplies a variable within a term. When examining the terms in this polynomial:

• The first term is (7x^3), where 7 is the coefficient of (x^3).

• The second term is (4x), with 4 as the coefficient of (x).

• The last term is a constant (-5), which does not have a variable associated with it.

The question asks specifically for the coefficient in the entire expression rather than in individual terms, and here the focus is on the highest degree term, which is typically where one identifies coefficients in polynomial expressions. Since (7x^3) holds the highest degree among all terms, 7 is recognized as the coefficient of the polynomial overall, especially defining its leading behavior in the context of polynomial degrees. Therefore, the correct answer is 7.