if a number is tripled the result is 60 The phrase a number means an arbitrary variable, let's call it x. x Triple the number means we multiply by 3: 3x The phrase the result is means an equation, so we set 3x equal to 60: 3x = 60 <-- This is our algebraic expression If you want to solve this equation, then you type in 3x = 60 into the search engine and get: x = 20