To find the value of the unknown, we compute the problem following order of operations. The value of the unknown depends on the other numbers in the individual problem. A term is the number and the attached variable. If there is no variable indicated next to a number, it is an understood variable to the zero power. Like terms are numbers with the same variables with the same powers.
Coefficients are the numbers in front of the variables.
If there is a negative in front of a variable with no number in front of it, the coefficient is an understood negative one. 3x 2 means only the x is squared. A negative in front of a parentheses, brace , bracket changes all signs inside the parentheses then disappears. A positive in front of a parentheses, brace, bracket does not change any signs. Back to TOP of page.