Question

What is the coefficient of x in the expression x-2? Explain your reasoning.

Answer 1

it is assumed that the coefficient of x in x-2 is 1 because there is 1 x. if the question read 2x-2 then there is 2 x's. the answer is 1

Answer 2

In expression x-2 coefficient of x is equal to one.
Let a be "a" x's coefficient.
If we put "a" to Your equation, it should be looks like:
ax-2
We know that there is only one x, so expression ax have to be equal x
Now we get

`ax=x`
From this equation we know that coefficient x "a" is equal to 1.