First, replace "a number" with "y" The sentence becomes: "The sum of 4 times y and 5 is 2" Replace "is" with the equals sign, "=" The sentence becomes: "The sum of 4 times y and 5 = 2" Replace "times" with the multiply symbol, " * " The sentence becomes: "The sum of 4 * y and 5 = 2" Replace "the sum of ___ and ___" with " ___ + ___"
The sentence becomes: "4*y + 5 = 2". the " * " isn't needed since 4y implies multiplication already, so you can optionally remove the *
