Let's take a look at the following algebraic expression: The addition and subtraction symbols separate this expression into three parts known as terms.
To identify each term, we put an addition symbol between each part and separate using parentheses:
So, the terms of this expression are: We say that is the first term, is the second term, and is the third term.
In this example, the subtraction symbol gave us the term . Whenever there is a subtraction symbol, the corresponding term will be negative.
List all terms of the expression
We put an addition symbol between each part and separate using parentheses:
So, the expression has three terms: , , and
What are the terms of the expression $3a + 5?$
|
a
|
$a$ and $5$ |
|
b
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$3$ and $5$ |
|
c
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$3a$ and $5$ |
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d
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$3$ and $a$ |
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e
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$3$, $a$, and $5$ |
What are the terms of the expression $-12g - 7h + 3?$
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a
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$12g$, $7h$, and $3$ |
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b
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$-12g$, $7h$, and $3$ |
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c
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$-12g$, $-7h$, and $3$ |
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d
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$12$, $7$, and $3$ |
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e
|
$g$ and $h$ |
What are the terms of the expression $a - b -c +d?$
|
a
|
$a$, $b$, $c$, and $-d$ |
|
b
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$-a$, $b$, $c$, and $d$ |
|
c
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$a$, $-b$, $-c$, and $d$ |
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d
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$-a$, $-b$, $c$, and $d$ |
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e
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$a$, $b$, $c$, and $d$ |
What is the fourth term of the expression
We put an addition symbol between each part and separate using parentheses: Counting off the terms:
- the first term is
- the second term is
- the third term is and
- the fourth term is
In particular, we are interested in the fourth term. The fourth term is
What's the first term of the expression $2x+y+z?$
|
a
|
$z$ |
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b
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$-x$ |
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c
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$x$ |
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d
|
$y$ |
|
e
|
$2x$ |
What is the fourth term of the expression $ 5 a -\dfrac 4 3 b - 12c+\dfrac 1 2 d?$
|
a
|
$-\dfrac 1 2 d$ |
|
b
|
$\dfrac 1 2 d$ |
|
c
|
$\sqrt 5 a$ |
|
d
|
$-12c$ |
|
e
|
$-\dfrac 4 3 b$ |
What is the third term of the expression $4r+3s-t?$
|
a
|
$-t$ |
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b
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$t$ |
|
c
|
$r$ |
|
d
|
$s$ |
|
e
|
$3s$ |
When two algebraic expressions contain exactly the same terms, they are said to be equivalent.
For example, the expression is equivalent to because they both contain the exact same terms. Both expressions are also equivalent to
Write down an expression that is equivalent to
The expression has three terms: and
It doesn't matter in what order we write the terms. For example, one equivalent expression is:
Another equivalent expression is:
Which of the following is equivalent to the expression $\dfrac13 b+2a?$
|
a
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$-2a-\dfrac13 b$ |
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b
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$\dfrac13a+2 b$ |
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c
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$-\dfrac13a-2 b$ |
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d
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$\dfrac12a+3 b$ |
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e
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$2a+\dfrac13 b$ |
Which of the following is equivalent to the expression $3a-2b-c?$
|
a
|
$3a-2b+c$ |
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b
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$3a+2b-c$ |
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c
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$-c-3a+2b$ |
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d
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$-2b-c+3a$ |
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e
|
$a-b-c$ |
Which of the following is equivalent to the expression $6z+\dfrac{3}{2}x+2y+\dfrac{5}{2}?$
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a
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$2y+4+6z+x$ |
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b
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$2y+\dfrac{5}{2}+6z+\dfrac{3}{2}x$ |
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c
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$6y+\dfrac{3}{2}+2z+\dfrac{5}{2}x$ |
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d
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$y+\dfrac{5}{2}+z+\dfrac{3}{2}x$ |
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e
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$z+4x+2y$ |