-65 times the difference between a number and 79 is equal to the number plus 98

-65 times the difference between a number and 79 is equal to the number plus 98

The phrase a number means an arbitrary variable. Let's call it x.

The first expression, the difference between a number and 79 means we subtract 79 from our arbitrary variable of x:
x - 79

Next, -65 times the difference between a number and 79 means we multiply our result above by -65:
-65(x - 79)

The phrase the number refers to the arbitrary variable x earlier. The number plus 98 means we add 98 to x:
x + 98

Now, let's bring it all together. The phrase is equal to means an equation. So we set -65(x - 79) equal to x + 98:
-65(x - 79) = x + 98 <-- This is our algebraic expression

If the problem asks you to take it a step further and solve for x, then you type this equation into our search engine, and you get:
x = 76.31818