# How do you translate word phrases to algebraic expressions: a number squared plus two times the number less 7 is equal to zero?

Jul 6, 2016

${x}^{2} + 2 \left(x - 7\right) = 0$

#### Explanation:

Let's break this down.

a number: this means "any number", so we can substitute that with a variable, $x$

squared: this means squaring the number, or multiplying it by itself (written as ${x}^{2}$; $x$ squared)

two times the number: we've already established the number is $x$, and two times that number would be $2 x$ (since we are multiplying it by two, hence "times")

the number less 7: this looks like subtraction (a number less seven would be $x - 7$

For the parts I left out, I thought they would be easy to comprehend. If you did not understand them, you will find out when I go through setting this up:

A number

$x$

squared

x^

plus two times the number less 7

${x}^{2} + 2 \left(x - 7\right)$

is equal to zero

${x}^{2} + 2 \left(x - 7\right) = 0$

I believe this is what you meant.