Algebraic Expressions: Terms, Coefficients, and Like Terms

A term is always separated by multiplication and division symbols.

The expression 7x + 5 + x + 2 has five terms.

A coefficient is a number that is added to a variable.

The term 3p has a coefficient of 3 and a variable of p.

Like terms are terms that contain different variables.

In the expression 11x + 3 + 6x, the constant is 3.

A term is a part of an expression.

The expression 7x + 5 + x + 2 has four terms.

Like terms are terms that contain the same variable.

You can use subtraction to undo addition.

Algebraic Expressions and Terms

A term is defined as a part of an expression, which can be isolated by multiplication and division symbols.
The expression 7x + 5 + x + 2 is made up of four terms: 7x, 5, x, and 2.
In algebra, a coefficient is a numerical factor attached to a variable. For example, in the term 3p, the coefficient is 3, and the variable is p.

Types of Terms

Like terms are defined as those that contain the same variable(s). For instance, in the expression 11x + 6x, both terms are like terms since they contain the variable x.
Unlike terms contain different variables or different degrees of the same variable and cannot be combined directly.

Constants and Operations

A constant is a term that does not have a variable. In the expression 11x + 3 + 6x, the constant is 3.
Subtraction can be used as an inverse operation to addition, allowing for the transformation of expressions.

Summary of Key Points

Understanding terms and their properties is crucial for simplifying and manipulating algebraic expressions.
Recognition of like and unlike terms aids in combining terms effectively during simplification processes.

Explore the concepts of terms, coefficients, like terms, and constants in algebraic expressions. Learn how to identify and simplify different parts of an expression such as terms, coefficients, and constants.