can you simplify an expression or substitute in an expression?

yes.

I thought an expressions was just a phrase, and you need a equals sign to do anything with an expression by turining it into an equation.

Yes, I can help you simplify an expression or substitute values into an expression. To simplify an expression, you can use various mathematical rules and operations to reduce the expression to its simplest form. This may involve combining and simplifying terms, factoring, canceling out common factors, or applying algebraic manipulations.

To substitute values into an expression, you simply replace the variables in the expression with the given values. This allows you to evaluate the expression for specific values and obtain a numerical result.

If you provide me with the specific expression and what you would like to simplify or substitute into it, I can help guide you through the process.