Final answer:
The expression x - 3 consists of two terms: 'x' and '-3', each acting as a standalone factor. There are no factors other than 1 and the term itself for both terms, and there are no like terms to combine for the purpose of simplifying the expression.
Step-by-step explanation:
The expression x – 3 can be broken down into two terms: x and -3. When we look at the expression in terms of factors, the first term, x, is unique on its own and does not have factors other than 1 and itself. The second term, -3, is also a standalone number and does not factor further as it is a constant. A tree diagram for this expression would show two branches: one ending with x and another ending with -3 since each term is a factor by itself.
To eliminate terms from an expression, we look for like terms that can be combined, but in the expression x – 3, there are no like terms to combine. It's important to check the answer by reviewing the terms and ensuring that they are presented correctly as per the breakdown into their simplest forms, and in this case, there's no simplification beyond the initial terms.