Represent the following phrase as an algebraic expression, where "a number" is the letter x. You do not need to simplify. 1 less than the product of 5 and a number.

The phrase "1 less than the product of 5 and a number" can be represented algebraically as: 5x - 1. When constructing algebraic expressions, it's important to pay attention to the order of operations. In this case, the product of 5 and the number (x) is calculated first, and then you subtract 1. Remember, clarity is key—using parentheses can help avoid confusion in complex expressions!