Count terms in expressions
for 6th grade

Count terms in expressions

In algebra a "term" is any combination of variables, exponents and constants or coefficients upon which mathematical operations such as addition or multipliation can be performed. Examples of terms are:

5q 47c -15g 6y³ -cd⁻³

Terms are most often found grouped together into expressions. Expressions are groups of terms separated by mathematical operators. Examples of expressions are:

y + 5 3y² - x 2f x 3f⁻³ 4g³ ÷ 15h⁴

How to count terms in an expression

Terms in an expression are separated by mathematical operators such as plus or minus. To count terms, take the number of operators and add 1. Or count the things you know are terms based on our definition above.

5p² + 3q⁵ - 8

So in the expression above we have 3 terms ( and 2 mathematical operators ).

Why do we care how many terms there are in an expression?

This topic is checking that you can distinguish what makes an element in an expression a term. By asking you to count terms, we are helping to clarify what is or isn't a term in an expression. Remember that constants (numbers without variables) are also terms if they are not coefficients of variables.

a³ + 3a³ 2 terms : a³ and 3a³

5p² + 3q⁵ - 8 3 terms : 5p² and 3q⁵ and 8