The expression "8 less than the product of 5 and a number" can be translated into a mathematical expression.

Let the unknown number be represented by $x$. The product of 5 and the number is $5x$. "8 less than" means you subtract 8 from this product.

So, the expression is:

$5x - 8$

Would you like more details or have any other questions?

Here are five related questions you might find interesting:

1. How would you solve the equation $5x - 8 = 0$?
2. If the expression $5x - 8$ equals 12, what is the value of $x$?
3. What happens if you add 8 to the expression $5x - 8$?
4. How would the expression change if it was "8 more than the product of 5 and a number"?
5. Can you graph the equation $y = 5x - 8$?

Tip: When translating word problems into algebraic expressions, identify keywords like "less than," "more than," "product," or "sum" to structure the correct equation.