What is a mathematical phrase that contains numbers and operation symbols called?

The correct answer is a numerical expression. A numerical expression is defined as a mathematical phrase that includes numbers and operation symbols, such as addition (+), subtraction (−), multiplication (×), and division (÷). For instance, an expression like 3 + 4 × 2 is a numerical expression because it consists of specific numbers and operations applied to those numbers.

In contrast, a variable expression incorporates both numbers and variables, usually representing functions or unknown values. Grouping symbols, such as parentheses and brackets, serve the function of indicating the order in which calculations should be performed but do not represent a mathematical phrase on their own. Lastly, the order of operations is a set of rules that dictates the sequence in which operations should occur in a mathematical expression but does not describe the expression itself.