6 subtracted from the product of 5 and a number is 68 Take this algebraic expression in parts. The phrase a number means an arbitrary variable, let's call it x. x The product of 5 and this number is: 5x We subtract 6 from 5x: 5x - 6 The phrase is means an equation, so we set 5x - 6 equal to 68 5x - 6 = 68