In
mathematics, the adjective
constant means non-varying. The noun
constant may have two different meanings. It may refer to a fixed and well defined number or other
mathematical object. The term
mathematical constant (and also
physical constant) is sometimes used to distinguish this meaning from the other one. A
constant may also refer to a
constant function or its
value (it is a common usage to identify them). Such a constant is commonly represented by a
variable which does not depend on the main variable(s) of the studied problem. This is the case, for example, for a
constant of integration which is an arbitrary constant function (not depending on the variable of integration) added to a particular
antiderivative to get all the antiderivatives of the given function.