Need some math help - Pre-Algebra question.....

[hmsch4me]

Can someone explain to me the following problem - I'm having a brain block today!!!

Write the number of terms in 6 + 2 x 5. Answer is 2.
Aren't terms the integers/variables in the problem or is it the number of functions?

Write the number of terms in 5(3 x 2). Answer is 1.

2/3x is said: 2 times X divided by 3 - I don't get this one.

Thanks!

[Jann in TX]

Can someone explain to me the following problem - I'm having a brain block today!!!

Write the number of terms in 6 + 2 x 5. Answer is 2.
Aren't terms the integers/variables in the problem or is it the number of functions?

Write the number of terms in 5(3 x 2). Answer is 1.

2/3x is said: 2 times X divided by 3 - I don't get this one.

Thanks!

Terms are the 'pieces' usually divided by addition and subtraction.

6 + 2 x 5 has only 2 terms because the 2x5 is 'glued' together by multiplication. You can re-write this problem using parenthesis. 6 + (2 x 5). This has a lot to do with the 'order of operations'. The 2 and the 5 have to be multiplied BEFORE you can add the 6...

5(3 X 2) uses only multiplication---the terms are 'glued' into one complex term. (I prefer the to use 'units' instead of the word 'term'.

2/3x means 2/3 times x. This is much easier to see if you could type with a horizontal fraction bar instead of the slash.
2/3(x) would be worked out by making the 'x' a fraction (x/1) and then multiplying across to get 2x/3 or '2 times x all divided by 3'.

Clear as mud right?!

[hmsch4me]

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