Final Answer:
The process of writing a sum or difference of terms as a product is called factoring.
Step-by-step explanation:
Factoring involves manipulating an expression to express it as the product of two or more simpler expressions. In the case of sums and differences, it involves applying various factoring techniques to transform the expression into a product of its individual terms. For example:
Sum: 4x + 8 can be factored as 4(x + 2) using the common factor method.
Difference: x^2 - 9 can be factored as (x + 3)(x - 3) using the difference of squares method.
Factoring simplifies expressions, making them easier to manipulate and analyze. It's a fundamental concept in algebra and plays a crucial role in solving equations, simplifying inequalities, and other algebraic operations.