How many terms does the following expression have?

x^4 - 16

A. 1

B. 2

C. 3

D. 5

1 Answer
Aug 18, 2017

Two.

Explanation:

In a polynomial like #x^4-16#, a term is a single collection of variables & numbers being multiplied together. Terms are the pieces in a polynomial that are added together to form a sum.

The first term in #x^4-16# is #color(blue)(x^4)#; it represents the product #x * x * x * x#.

The second term in #x^4-16# is #color(red)("-"16)#; we are adding #"-"16# to #x^4#.

(Technically, the polynomial is #x^4+("-"16)#, but for ease of reading, we tend to show "adding a negative" as subtraction.)