Question

A student attempted to generate an equivalent expression using the distributive property, as shown below:

3(p - 4) = 3p - 4

What was the mistake made?

3 was not multiplied by p

3 was not multiplied by -4

Incorrect sign was used for the first term

Incorrect sign was used for the second term

Answer 1

3(p-4) = 3p-4

The distributive property will take the number on the outside and multiply it by everything on the inside.

Example: 7(x-1) = 7x -7 because we multiplied the 7 and the x and we then multiplied 7 and -1.

Use that example to determine what multiple choice answer should be correct!

Answer 2

3 was not multiplied by -4

It should be :
3(p - 4) = 3p - 12