Definition
Algebraic term
One top-level part of an algebraic expression being added, with its sign attached.
What it means
Find the plus and minus signs at the outermost level. The pieces they separate are terms, and a minus sign belongs to the piece after it. Do not split at signs inside parentheses unless the expression is expanded.
Remember it
Top-level plus and minus signs are the fences between terms; keep each sign inside its fence.
Example
In 6a² − 4b + 9, the terms are 6a², −4b, and 9. The minus sign is part of the second term.
Watch for
In 4(x + 2), x and 2 are not top-level terms of the whole expression. The product 4(x + 2) is one term until it is expanded.
Common mix-up
A term in an expression is an additive part; a term in a sequence is an item at a position.
Exact meaning
An algebraic term is one top-level part of an expression being added; subtraction is treated as adding a negative term, so the minus sign stays with that term.