symbolicvariable

noun
UK /sɪmˈbɒlɪk ˈveəriəbl/
US /sɪmˈbɑːlɪk ˈveriəbl/

A symbolic variable is a letter or sign that stands for a number we do not know yet.

In the equation x + 3 = 7, x is a symbolic variable.

SYNONYMS

placeholderunknownlettersignstand-in

RELATED WORDS

equationalgebraconstantexpressionformula

OTHER MEANINGS

2. In computer programming, a name that holds a value which can change while a program runs.

The programmer used a symbolic variable to store the player's score.

3. In logic, a symbol that represents any statement or object in a formula.

The logician replaced each sentence with a symbolic variable to test the argument.

4. A symbol used in math to stand for a quantity that may take different values.

The teacher wrote a symbolic variable on the board to show the missing length.