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
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