Question

How do you identify the terms, like terms, coefficients, and constants in the expression: `8y-3+y`?

Answer 1

`8y -3+y`

"Terms" in a maths expression are like words in an English sentence.

Terms are separated by `+ and -` signs

The signs do not count if they are:

• in a bracket
• in a fraction
• under a root

`color(red)(8y)color(blue)( -3)color(red)(+y)" :` has 3 terms

`8y and +y` are like terms because they have exactly the same variable. The could be added to give `9y`

`3` is the constant - it is a number term and does not change its value.

The numerical coefficient of a term is the number at the front.

`8` is the numerical coefficient of `8y`