Term
See It in Action
Two examples of the idea done right—and one common look-alike that is not right.
EXAMPLE
EXAMPLE
NON-EXAMPLE
Definition
A term is a single mathematical expression that can be a constant, a variable, or a product of constants and variables. Terms are the building blocks of algebraic expressions and equations.
Here’s a breakdown of what constitutes a term:
Constant Term: A term that consists only of a number with no variables. For example, in the expression 5x + 3 , the number 3 is a constant term.
Variable Term: A term that consists only of a variable. For example, in the expression 4x, 4x is a variable term where x is the variable.
Coefficient: The number part of a term that contains a variable. In 7y, 7 is the coefficient of the term.
Product of a Coefficient and Variable(s): Terms can also be a combination of a coefficient and one or more variables, such as -2ab.
In an expression like 3x^2 + 4x - 5, there are three terms: 3x^2, 4x, and -5. Each term is separated by a plus or minus sign.