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RECOGNIZING PRODUCTS AND SUMS;
IDENTIFYING FACTORS AND TERMS

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The concepts for this exercise are summarized below. For a complete discussion, read the text.

DEFINITIONS: product, factors, sum, terms
A product is an expression where the last operation is multiplication.
In a product, the things being multiplied are called the factors.

A sum is an expression where the last operation is addition.
In a sum, the things being added are called the terms.

As an example, consider the expression  a(b+c) .
If numbers are chosen for  a ,  b , and  c ,
then here is the order that computations would be done:
Notice that the last operation done is multiplication.
Thus, the expression  a(b+c)  is a product.
The factors are  a  and  b+c .

As a second example, consider the expression  ab + c .
Given numbers  a ,  b , and  c ,
here is the order that computations would be done:
Notice that the last operation done is addition.
Thus,  ab + c  is a sum.
The terms are  ab  and  c .

EXAMPLES
User input is in bold.

The expression  3xy   is a product.
The factors are 3, x, y
Note: The factors must be listed in order from left to right, and must be separated by commas.

The expression  -4x(x+2)   is a product.
The factors are -4, x, x+2
Note: Do not put parentheses when listing factors.

The expression  5x - y + 1   is a sum.
The terms are 5x, -y, 1
Note: The terms must be listed in order from left to right, and must be separated by commas. Remember that a term includes its sign.

The expression  x2 + 2y3 - 7   is a sum.
The terms are x^2, 2y^3, -7
Note: Exponents must be input using the "^" key.
 
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The expression

is a:
product
sum
The
factors
terms
are:





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When you "end timing," you'll get a summary sheet of your results. Good luck!