Concept

Term - Expression

A term is a number, variable, or the product of multiple numbers or variables. In an expression, terms are separated by a $+$ or $-$ sign. $\begin{aligned} \textbf{Te}&\textbf{rm}&&&\textbf{Te}&\textbf{rm} \\ \textbf{Expression:} \qquad&5 & &+& &3 \\ \textbf{Expression:} \qquad&x & &-& &y \end{aligned}$ In the example expressions above, the terms are made up of only numbers or only variables, but an expression can have as few as one or as many as infinitely many terms. Here are two more examples. $\begin{gathered} \textbf{Term} & & \textbf{Term} & & \textbf{Term} & & \textbf{Term} \\ 2x & + & 3 \\ 6x & + & 2y & - & 2 & + & 7 \end{gathered}$ These expressions have two and four terms, respectively. Notice that some of the terms are the products of numbers and variables.