Question

Identify the terms, their coefficients for each of the following expressions: $3-pq+qr-p$

Answer 1

Step 1: Determine the terms in the expression

1. An algebraic expression is made up of variables, constants, and arithmetic operations on these entities.
2. A term can be a number, a variable, or a product, or a quotient of numbers and variables, but not addition and subtraction of these.
3. Terms are separated by addition or subtraction.

Given expression is $3-pq+qr-p$.

The terms in the expression are: $3$, $-pq$, $qr$ and $-p$.

Step 2: Determine the coefficients of the terms

A coefficient is the numerical factor of the term.

The numerical coefficients of the terms are:

$\begin{array}{rcl}3& \to & 3\\ -pq& \to & -1\\ qr& \to & 1\\ -p& \to & -1\end{array}$

Therefore, the terms of the expression are $3$, $-pq$, $qr$ and $-p$ and their coefficients are $3$, $-1$, $1$ and $-1$ respectively.

Note:

When the coefficient is $1$, it is omitted in writing (if variables are present).

When there is a negative sign in front of a term, it means that the numerical coefficient is negative.