How many terms are in this expression? \[ 5 x^{2}+x+2 y+30 \]

In the expression \( 5x^{2} + x + 2y + 30 \), there are four distinct terms: \( 5x^{2} \), \( x \), \( 2y \), and \( 30 \). Each one is separated by a plus sign, which means they count as individual components of the polynomial. So, when you're counting terms in algebra, just look for these little 'chunks' of math goodness that are combined together! Another fun aspect to note is that each term can also tell a story about the expression's behavior. For example, the term \( 5x^{2} \) indicates it's a quadratic function, which means the graph will have that lovely parabolic shape—perfect for understanding the motion of projectiles or the path of a thrown ball!