The Distributive Property

The process of distributing the number on the outside of the parentheses to each term on the inside.


a(b + c) = ab + ac
and
(b + c) a = ba + ca

a(b - c) = ab - ac
and
(b - c) a = ba - ca
Example #1
5(x + 7)
5x+57
5x + 35

Example #2
3(m - 4)
3m-34
3m - 12
Example #3
-2(y + 3)
-2 y + (-2) 3
-2y + (-6)
-2y - 6

Which statement demonstrates the distributive property incorrectly?

1. 2. 3. 4. 3(x + y + z) = 3x + 3y + 3z
(a + b) c = ac + bc
5(2 + 3x) = 10 + 3x
6(3k - 4) = 18k - 24
Answer Now

A term is a

1) number,
2) variable, or
3) a product / quotient of numbers and variables.

Example
5
m
2x2

The coefcient is
the numerical part of the term.

Examples

1) 4a
4
2) y2
1

2 5 x 3)
7

5 7

Like Terms are terms with the same variable AND exponent.
To simplify expressions with like terms, simply combine the like terms.

Are these like terms?

1) 13k,

22k

Yes, the variables are the same.
2) 5ab, 4ba

Yes, the order of the variables doesnt matter.
3) x3y, xy3

No, the exponents are on different variables.

Which of the following is the simplied form of  -4x + 7x ?

1. 2. 3. 4. -4
3x
-3x
4
Answer Now

8x + 2 x + 5a + a
8x and
2 x
2

5a and a

are like terms

are like terms

The above expression simplies to:

10 x + 6a

1) 5a + 7a

Simplify
12a

2) 6.1y - 3.2y
2.9y

3) 4x2y + x2y
5x2y
4) 3m2n + 10mn2 + 7m2n - 4mn2
10m2n + 6mn2

5) 13a + 8a + 6b
21a + 6b
6) 4d + 6a2 - d + 12a2
18a2 + 3d
3 y y 7)
+ 4 4 y

3y 1y 4y + = = 1y 4 4 4

Which of the following is the simplied form of  5x - 4 - 7x + 14 ?

1. 2. 3. 4. -12x + 10
-2x + 10
2x - 18
12x 18
Answer Now

If a triangle has sides 3x - 2, 5 - x and 2x - 5, what is the perimeter of the triangle?

1. 2. 3. 4. 4x - 2
4x + 2
5x - 2
5x - 7
Answer Now

Which gure below models the simplication of - 4x - 5 + 7x + 7 using these tiles?

1. 2. 3. 4.

Answer Now

Bonus! Which of the following is the simplied form of a + 3a - 4(9 - a) ?

1. 2. 3. 4. -36
3a - 36
8a - 36
8a + 36
Answer Now