Distributive Property
2-7-2
Distributive Property
•
To illustrate the distributive property look at the
problem 3(2x-7).
•
This problem says 3 times 2x-7
–
or 3 of (2x-7).
•
Multiplying by 3 means add 2x-7 over and over.
•
2x-7+2x-7+2x-7
•
Simplify this by using the commutative property.
2x+2x+2x-7-7-7=3(2x)+3(-7)
Distributive Property
•
To use the distributive property, multiply
each term inside the parenthesis by the
multiplier.
Watch out for…
•
exponent rules
•
multiplication when negatives are involved
•
combining like terms
Examples
(
29
5 3
8
15
40
-
=
-
x
x
Examples
(
29
2
3
7
6
21
18
x
x
x
x
-
=
-
(
29
2
2
3
4
6
5
24
20
z
z
z
z
-
-
= -
+
Examples
(
29
5
8
5
8
s
s
-
-
= -
+
(
29
4
2 3
9
4
6
18
2
18
x
x
x
x
x
-
-
=
-
+
= -
+
Examples
(
29
2
3
2
3
3
2
5
3
7
5
21
15
w y
w
y
w y
w y
-
=
-
