Represent the following phrase as an algebraic expression, where “a number” is the letter x . You
do not need to simplify.
7 is subtracted from the product of 4 and a number.

The phrase can be expressed as . Here, “the product of 4 and a number” translates to , and when we say “7 is subtracted,” we subtract 7 from that product.

If you’re ever in doubt about translating words to symbols, try breaking the phrase down into smaller parts. Identifying terms like “product,” “sum,” “subtracted from,” or “more than” can help you quickly grasp the underlying math and avoid common pitfalls in translation!