What do we call expressions that contain more than one term?

Expressions that contain more than one term are referred to as polynomials. A polynomial is defined as a mathematical expression that includes variables, coefficients, and non-negative integer exponents. These expressions can consist of several terms that are combined using addition or subtraction.

For example, the expression 3x^2 + 2x - 5 is a polynomial because it contains three distinct terms: 3x^2, 2x, and -5. Each of these terms comprises a coefficient (the numerical part in front of the variable) and a variable raised to a power.

Understanding that polynomials can have varying numbers of terms is fundamental in algebra. A polynomial can be classified by the number of terms it contains; for instance, a polynomial with one term is called a monomial. In contrast, the other options do not fit the definition of expressions with multiple terms. Constants refer to single numerical values, while coefficients are just the numbers in front of the variables in each term, and monomials consist of only one term. Thus, by recognizing that polynomials are the correct category for expressions with more than one term, one can approach various algebraic problems with greater clarity and confidence.