196

Right idea, but wrong terminology.

There's no such thing as implicit multiplication

xy is a Term - Terms are separated by operators (none in this case) and joined by grouping symbols.

x(y) is a Bracketed Term, and is therefore subject to The Distributive Law, which is the first step in solving Brackets.

And yes, a multiplication symbol is an operator - which therefore separates Terms (which is why ab and axb aren't the same thing - it's 1 term vs. 2 terms), and the "M" in the mnemonics refers literally to multiplication signs, and nothing else.