Question

Explain how you know whether to add or subtract when you use the distributive property to multiply?

Answer 1

Distributive property is only for multiplication of two or more terms

Explanation:

Distributive property:

It is an algebra property which is used to multiply a single term and two or more terms

So, distributive property is for multiplication only

For example:

For two terms:

`a(b+c)=a* b +a* c`

For more than two terms:

`a(b+c+d)=a* b +a* c+a* d`

Suppose, we want to multiply

7 with (9+3)

then we can use distributive property

`7(9+3)=7* 9 +7* 3`

`7(9+3)=63+21`

`7(9+3)=84`

We can verify it

`7(9+3)=7* (12)`

`7(9+3)=84`

So, distributive property is only for multiplication of two or more terms

Answer 2

Answer: You must see if it is a distributive property of multiplication over addition or a distributive property of multiplication over subtration.

Explanation:

You can find two kind of expressions in this property:

- Distributive property of multiplication over addition: When you mulitply a sum by a number. For example:

`a(b+c)=ab+ac`

- Distributive property of multiplication over subtration: When you mulitply a subtration expression by a number. For example:

`a(b-c)=ab-ac`