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Variable vs Expression - What's the difference?

variable | expression |

In mathematics terms the difference between variable and expression

is that variable is a symbol representing a variable while expression is an arrangement of symbols denoting values, operations performed on them, and grouping symbols.

In biology terms the difference between variable and expression

is that variable is tending to deviate from a normal or recognized type while expression is the process of translating a gene into a protein.

In programming terms the difference between variable and expression

is that variable is a named memory location in which a program can store intermediate results and from which it can read them while expression is a piece of code in a high-level language that returns a value.

As nouns the difference between variable and expression

is that variable is something that is variable while expression is a particular way of phrasing an idea.

As an adjective variable

is able to vary.

variable

Adjective

(en adjective)
  • Able to vary.
  • variable''' winds or seasons; a '''variable quantity
  • Likely to vary.
  • * Shakespeare
  • Lest that thy love prove likewise variable .
  • Marked by diversity or difference.
  • (mathematics) Having no fixed quantitative value.
  • (biology) Tending to deviate from a normal or recognized type.
  • Synonyms

    * (able to vary) alterable, flexible, changeable, mutable * (likely to vary) fickle, fluctuating, inconstant, shifting, unstable, unsteady * (marked by diversity or difference) varying * aberrant

    Antonyms

    * (able to vary) constant, invariable, immutable, unalterable, unchangeable * (likely to vary) constant, invariable, immutable, unchangeable * (marked by diversity or difference) unchanging * constant, invariable

    Derived terms

    * variability * variableness

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • Something that is .
  • Something whose value may be dictated or discovered.
  • * {{quote-magazine, year=2013, month=May-June, author= Katie L. Burke
  • , title= In the News , volume=101, issue=3, page=193, magazine=(American Scientist) , passage=Bats host many high-profile viruses that can infect humans, including severe acute respiratory syndrome and Ebola. A recent study explored the ecological variables that may contribute to bats’ propensity to harbor such zoonotic diseases by comparing them with another order of common reservoir hosts: rodents.}}
  • (mathematics) A quantity that may assume any one of a set of values.
  • (mathematics) A symbol representing a variable.
  • (programming) A named memory location in which a program can store intermediate results and from which it can read them.
  • (astronomy) A variable star.
  • (nautical) A shifting wind, or one that varies in force.
  • (nautical, in the plural) Those parts of the sea where a steady wind is not expected, especially the parts between the trade-wind belts.
  • Synonyms

    * (something that is variable) changeable * (something whose value may be dictated or discovered) parameter * variable quantity

    Antonyms

    * (something that is variable) constant, invariable

    Hyponyms

    * See also

    Derived terms

    * bound variable * categorical variable * continuous variable * dependent variable * discrete variable * flow variable * free variable * global variable * independent variable * instance variable * interval variable * local variable * member variable * metasyntactic variable * nominal variable * ordinal variable * ratio variable * stock variable * variable star * variably * vary

    See also

    * argument * variate

    expression

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • A particular way of phrasing an idea.
  • A colloquialism or idiom.
  • A facial appearance usually associated with an emotion.
  • * {{quote-book, year=1963, author=(Margery Allingham), title=(The China Governess)
  • , chapter=9 citation , passage=Eustace gaped at him in amazement. When his urbanity dropped away from him, as now, he had an innocence of expression which was almost infantile. It was as if the world had never touched him at all.}}
  • (mathematics) An arrangement of symbols denoting values, operations performed on them, and grouping symbols.
  • (biology) The process of translating a gene into a protein.
  • (programming) A piece of code in a high-level language that returns a value.
  • Of a mother, the process of expressing milk.
  • Derived terms

    * arithmetic expression * linguistic expression * logical expression * regular expression * expression pedal

    Statistics

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