What is a term?

The idea

Terms are the parts of an expression separated by a '+' sign; a part with no '+' sign in it, such as a product, is a single term.

Ruby’s groups

Ruby sat out of the game. The other 33 children made 6 groups of 5, with 3 left over. Ruby wrote 6 × 5 + 3.

An expression is made of parts called terms. How many parts do you think 6 × 5 + 3 has?

• 2 parts: 6 × 5 and 3
• 3 parts: 6, 5 and 3
• 4 parts: 6, ×, 5 and 3

Cut at the plus signs

Tap a + sign to cut the expression there. The pieces between the cuts are its terms.

What is a term?

Only a + sign makes a cut. A product or a quotient has no + sign in it, so it stays in one piece. A bracket stays in one piece too.

Terms are the parts of an expression separated by a + sign. A part with no + sign in it, such as a product, is a single term.

• Expression | Terms
• 12 + 7 | 12 and 7
• 6 × 5 + 3 | 6 × 5 and 3
• 4 + 100 ÷ 2 | 4 and 100 ÷ 2
• 5 × (3 + 2) + 7 × 8 + 3 | 5 × (3 + 2), 7 × 8 and 3

Notes

Terms are the parts of an expression separated by a + sign. A product has no + sign in it, so it is a single term.

Check yourself

How many terms does 2 × 9 + 8 × 3 + 4 have?

Answer: 3

The terms are 2 × 9, 8 × 3 and 4. Each product is a single term.

Which are the terms of 7 + 3 × 5?

In 4 × (6 + 1) + 2, why is 6 + 1 not cut off as a term?

• 7 and 3 × 5 — correct. Yes! There is one + sign, so there are two terms. 3 × 5 is a single term.
• 7 + 3 and 5. The sign between 3 and 5 is ×, not +. It cannot cut there.
• 7, 3 and 5. 3 and 5 are multiplied, so they stay together as one term.
• Because 6 + 1 is a small sum.. Size does not matter. It is the brackets that keep it inside one term.
• The + is inside brackets, so the bracket belongs to the term 4 × (6 + 1). — correct. Yes! The terms are 4 × (6 + 1) and 2.
• Because the + inside brackets is not a plus sign.. It is a plus sign, but it is inside brackets, so it does not separate terms.