Which statement defines an algebraic expression?

• A. An equation that contains an equals sign.
• B. An expression that contains at least one variable and has no equals sign.
• C. A numeric value with no variables.
• D. A product of numbers and letters.

Answer: (B)

An algebraic expression is a mathematical phrase that combines numbers, variables, and operation signs, but it does not include an equals sign. That means it can show quantities with variables and be simplified or evaluated, but it isn’t about setting two sides equal. The statement that describes an expression as having at least one variable and no equals sign matches this idea precisely: it identifies the presence of a variable (which makes it algebraic) and the absence of an equals sign (which distinguishes an expression from an equation). For example, 3x + 5 or x^2 − 4 are algebraic expressions. If there were an equals sign, or if there were no variables at all (just a number like 7), those would not fit this specific definition.