Chapter 5 · Expressions · page 24 of 68
The distributive property
levelGrade 6
standard6.EE.A.3, 7.EE.A.1
practiceLike terms and distributing
A number outside parentheses multiplies every term inside, not just the first one. a(b + c) = ab + ac. It is how you get rid of parentheses.
How to use it
- Multiply the outside number by the first term inside.
- Multiply it by the second term inside. And the third, if there is one.
- Write the products with their signs, then combine like terms if any.
Example
Where it goes wrong
- Multiplying only the first term. 3(2x + 5) is not 6x + 5.
- Distributing a negative and forgetting to flip the second sign.