Question

A farmer sold 54 pumpkins the first weekend of a fall festival and 42 pumpkins the second weekend.

Which expression uses the distributive property to show equivalent expressions for this situation?



A. 54 + 42 = (3)(18) + (6)(7)
B. 54 + 42 = (9)(10) + 6
C. 54 + 42 = 90 + 6
D. 54 + 42 = 6(9 + 7)

Answer 1

D. uses the property of distribution to show equivalent expression for the situation

Answer 2

D. 54 + 42 = 6(9 + 7)

Explanation:

Given three variables A, B and C, according to distributive law;

A(B+C) = AB+AC

A is distributed over B and C

If a farmer sold 54 pumpkins the first weekend of a fall festival and 42 pumpkins the second weekend, the total number of pumpkins sold is expressed as:

54 + 42

To express this sum using the distributive law, we will find a largest common factor of 54 and 42 and factor it out from the sum to have;

54 + 42 = 6(9) + 6(7)

54 + 42 = 6(9 + 7)

As we can see, 6 is distributed over 9 and 7

Option D is correct