Question

How many terms are in this expression `5(-4a+8b+7c)-3(5b-11c-32)`?

Answer 1

There are `2` terms

Explanation:

There are `2` terms.

Terms are separated by plus and minus signs unless the signs are
- in a bracket
- in a fraction
- under a root

`color(red)(5(-4a+8b+7c)) color(blue)(-3(5b-11c-32))`

If the brackets are multiplied out we get `6` terms.

`=color(green)(-20a)color(magenta)(+40b) color(lime)(+35c) color(magenta)(-15b) color(lime)(+33c) color(purple)(+96)`

If the like terms are added, we get `4` terms

`=color(green)(-20a) color(magenta)(+25b) color(lime)(+68c) color(purple)(+96)`