|
Algebra - TermsTerms Are The Basic Building Blocks Of Algebra |
|
| In Early Work - A Term May be Thought Of As Having Three Elements | ||
|---|---|---|
|
SIGN Element
This may bepositive OR negative IF no sign is written THEN it is positive EXAMPLE 2x means + 2x |
NUMBER Element
IFno number is shown THEN it is understood to be 1 EXAMPLE - x means - 1x |
LETTER Element
IFno letter is shown THEN there is no letter EXAMPLE + 123 means + 123 |
A Term Can Be Any Of The Following
|
TYPE
|
Positive Examples
|
Negative Examples
|
||||
|
Number |
5 | + 7 | 25 | - 3 | - 9 | - 32 |
|
Letter |
+ d | k | + x | - a | - b | - z |
|
Number × Letter |
+ 2a | + 25k | 7x | - 6g | - 5j | - 100w |
|
Letter × Letter |
+ ab | mt | + xy | - jk | - ap | - dw |
|
Number × Letter × Letter |
+ 5cd | + 11km | 56jy | - 7re | - 4vf | - 100gt |
|
Letter × Letter × Letter |
+ abc | + mot | xyz | - spq | - oyr | - kcu |
|
Number power |
52 | + 63 | 10-3 | - 72 | - 48 | - 2-2 |
|
Letter power |
x2 | + y3 | z-3 | - x2 | - y8 | - z-2 |
If we only have one positive term
we may or may not use the + sign
If we have a number used with one or more letters
we usually write the number on the left
If we have more than one letter
we usually write the letters in alphabetical order
If we have any Greek letters
we usually write these before any other letters