Question

How many terms are there in each of the following algebraic expressions?
$\left(i\right)6x^3+8x^2-4x$
$\left(ii\right)15x{y}^3+21x^2-16$
$\left(iii\right)19x^2+8x^2+4xy-2$

• A. 3, 3 and 4
• B. 3, 2 and 4
• C. 3, 2 and 2
• D. 3, 3 and 3

Answer 1

The correct option is D 3, 3 and 3

Expressions are made up of terms. A term can be a constant, a variable, product of constant and variables or product of variables.
Each term in an algebraic expression is separated by an arithmetic operator + or - .

$\left(i\right)6x^3+8x^2-4x$
$\text{has three terms}6x^3,8x^2\text{and}-4x$.

$\left(ii\right)15x{y}^3+21x^2-16$
$\text{has three terms}15x{y}^3,21x^2\text{and}-16$.

$\left(iii\right)19x^2+8x^2+4xy-2$
$=27x^2+4xy-2$
$\text{(Since}19x^2\text{and}8x^2\text{are like terms)}$
$\text{has three terms}27x^2,4xy\text{and}-2$.

Therefore, all the given expressions have three terms.