Squaring a number equals 5 times that number. The phrase a number means an arbitrary variable, let's call it x. Squaring this number: x^2 5 times this number means we multiply by 5: 5x The phrase equals means we set both expressions equal to each other: x^2 = 5x <-- This is our algebraic expression If you want to solve for x, then we subtract 5x from each side: x^2 - 5x = 5x - 5x Cancel the 5x on the right side, leaving us with 0: x^2 - 5x = 0 Factor out x: x(x - 5) So we get x = 0 or x = 5
