The square of 4 times a number

Question

The algebraic expression

Answer 1

To translate this statement into an algebraic expression, work from the inside out. First, identify your variable. Where the question says "a number" we will write x instead:

The square of 4 times x

Now change the "times" to a multiplication sign:

The square of 4*x

Next, rewrite "the square of" as an exponent:

(4*x)²

Or more simply, (4x)²

If you want to simplify it even further, we can go ahead and square 4 to get 16x². Notice how the parentheses around (4x)² tell us that we have to square both 4 and x. In 16x² without the parentheses the exponent only applies to the x.