Algebra – Algebraic Terms

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Here are some common algebraic terms that should be known.

Term – Terms in an expression are separated by a plus or minus sign.

                            x                       3x + 4               2y + 4xy +6

                        (1 term)                (2 terms)              (3 terms)

Terms can be the product of a digit or several variables (e.g. letters).

Variable – A variable is a symbol (usually a letter) that represents some number.

Factor – A factor is a number or a group of terms that divides into another number or expression without leaving a remainder. E.g.  1, 2, 4, 8, are all factors of 8.

Monomial – An expression which consists of one term (mono means one).

                       e.g. 3a, 5b, 8m²

Binomial – An expression which consists of two terms (bi means two).

e.g.  3a + 5b, 2y² - 3y

Trinomial – An expression which consists of three terms (tri means three).

e.g. x² + 3x + 5

Polynomial – An expression with one, two, three or more terms.

e.g. 3x² + 2y + 4x + 5z

Coefficient – The variable part of a term is called the variable coefficient or literal coefficient and the number part of a term is called the numerical coefficient.

e.g. 3x²:  x² is the literal coefficient

                 3   is the numerical coefficient

Degree – The literal term with the highest exponent or exponent sum determines the degree of the polynomial.

e.g. 3x²+ 5x²y²+ 2y²   The term 5x²y² has an exponent sum of 4.  The degree is 4.

       4³ + 2x² + 6           The term 4³ has the highest exponent, so the degree is 3.

       4y – 3x                     The degree is 1

Exponent, Power, Base –

7³           7 is the base

                   3 is the exponent

                   7³ is the power

(6yx)³     6yx is the base

                      3 is the exponent

                     (6yx)³ is the power

These terms should be reviewed and carefully read when solving problems in class, at home, and on tests.

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