Term (mathematics)

A term is a mathematical expression that may form a separable part of an equation, a series, or another expression.

In the context of polynomials, sometimes term is used for a monomial with a coefficient: to 'collect like terms' in a polynomial is the operation of making it a linear combination of distinct monomials.

A series is often represented as the sum of a sequence of terms.

In general mathematical use, however, term is not limited to additive expressions. Individual factors in an expression representing a product are multiplicative terms. Indeed, individual elements of any mathematical expression may be referred to as terms. Terms are numbers separated by the operational signs of addition and subtraction in an expression. For example, in $6 + 3x - 2$, $6$, $3x$, and $-2$ are all terms.

Terms also appear in logic. A basic definition is two numbers and an operation

Some Terminology

addition and subtraction

• Addend
• Minuend and subtrahend are the first and second terms, respectively, in subtraction

multiplication

Factor. In a multiplication of two factors, the first is called the multiplicand and the second is called the multiplier.

divisions and fractions

The top of a division is called the numerator (or dividend), and the bottom is called the denominator (or divisor).

See also

• Equation
• Like and unlike terms
• Expression (mathematics)

References

• Schwartzman, Steven (1994). The words of mathematics: An etymological dictionary of mathematical terms used in English. The Mathematical Association of America. p. 219. ISBN 0-88385-511-9.