Final answer:
In the context of a simplified algebraic expression where an asterisk indicates a placeholder for a term, the term needed to replace the asterisk would be a 'monomial'. A monomial is a single-term expression that can be a constant, variable, or a product of constants and variables.
Step-by-step explanation:
The original question seems to be a part of a mathematical exercise involving simplification or substitution within an algebraic expression. The asterisk (*) in mathematics often denotes a placeholder for a missing or unspecified term. If you are given an equation or expression where constants are collected in parentheses and replaced with the symbol 'a' to simplify the equation, you may encounter a situation where you need to identify or replace a term indicated by an asterisk (*) with a monomial.
In the context of the given question, to replace the asterisk you would need to write down the specific monomial that the asterisk represents. A monomial is a mathematical expression consisting of a single term which can be a constant, a variable, or multiples of constants and variables multiplied together.