How many terms are in a trinomial?

A trinomial is defined as a polynomial that consists of three distinct terms. The term "tri-" in trinomial indicates the number three, which is a key feature of this type of expression. Each term in a trinomial typically involves variables raised to various powers and possibly a constant, contributing to a total of three individual components.

For example, in the trinomial expression (3x^2 + 5x + 2), there are clearly three terms: (3x^2), (5x), and (2). Each term provides specific information about the polynomial, including its degree and coefficients.

In contrast, other options refer to polynomials with a different number of terms. A monomial consists of just one term, while a binomial has two terms. Therefore, the correct understanding of a trinomial aligns with its definition and examples in algebra, reinforcing that it indeed contains three terms.