Final answer:
The expression 'Four minus the product of one and a number x' is written as 4 - x. This involves basic algebraic understanding, including the handling of negative exponents and solving quadratic equations.
Step-by-step explanation:
The expression to represent 'Four minus the product of one and a number x' can be written in mathematical terms as 4 - (1 × x), or simply 4 - x.
Understanding this involves comprehending basic algebraic expressions and negative exponents. For instance, when dealing with negative exponents, like in x-n, we understand it as 1 / xn, where the negative exponent denotes a division rather than a multiplication. Applying this, x0, which is x raised to the zero power, equals 1 according to the 'add the exponents rule'.
The concept of solving quadratic equations also comes into play when we manipulate expressions, such as factoring or completing the square, to solve for x. As an example, the general form ax2 + bx + c = 0 can be rearranged using various algebraic methods to isolate x.