Answer:
a number x divided by four, minus seventeen
or
seventeen less than a quarter of a number x
or
a quarter of x take away seventeen
Explanation:
There's a variable in the expression so we can just say "a number x". We are dividing that unknown number by four, so we can say x divided by four, or since dividing by four is multiplying by one fourth, we can say one fourth of x or a quarter of x (especially since 'of' in math means multiplication). Then we have to subtract seventeen. We could leave it as minus seventeen at the end, or we could say seventeen less than a fourth of x or take away seventeen. As can be seen, there are numerous ways to go about 'verbalizing' the expression, or any expression for that matter. Think creatively!