Question

Identify the terms and the like terms in the expression.

$\frac{1}{2}s-4+\frac{3}{4}s+\frac{1}{8}-s^3$

Answer 1

Identifying the terms and the like terms:

We have given an algebraic expression $\frac{1}{2}s-4+\frac{3}{4}s+\frac{1}{8}-s^3$

We know that each part of an algebraic expression which are separated by plus sign (+) or minus sign (-) is called the term of an algebraic expression.

So, the terms in the given expression are $\frac{1}{2}s,-4,\frac{3}{4}s,\frac{1}{8}$ and $-s^3$

Like terms: We know that the like terms are defined as the terms that contain the same variable which is raised to the same power.

$$\begin{gathered} \left(i\right)\left(\frac{1}{2}s\right)\mathrm{and}\left(\frac{3}{4}s\right) \\ \left(ii\right)(-4)\mathrm{and}\left(\frac{1}{8}\right) \end{gathered}$$

Hence, the terms are $\frac{1}{2}s,-4,\frac{3}{4}s,\frac{1}{8}$ and $-s^3$ and like terms are $\left(\frac{1}{2}s\right)\mathrm{and}\left(\frac{3}{4}s\right)$ & $(-4)\mathrm{and}\left(\frac{1}{8}\right)$ in the given expression $\frac{1}{2}s-4+\frac{3}{4}s+\frac{1}{8}-s^3$