Question

What is another way to write the expression \( r \cdot (18 - 3) \)?

a) \( (r \cdot 18) - 3 \)
b) \( r \cdot 18 - 3 \)
c) \( (r \cdot 18) - (r \cdot 3) \)
d) \( (r \cdot 18) \cdot 3 \)

Answer 1

The expression \( r \cdot (18 - 3) \) is equivalent to option b) \( r \cdot 18 - 3 \). Option B is correct.

Step-by-step explanation:

The expression \( r \cdot (18 - 3) \) can be simplified using the distributive property of multiplication over addition and subtraction. The expression \( 18 - 3 \) simplifies to \( 15 \), so \( r \cdot (18 - 3) \) simplifies to \( r \cdot 15 \).

Among the given options:

• a) \( (r \cdot 18) - 3 \) simplifies to \( r \cdot 18 - 3 \)
• b) \( r \cdot 18 - 3 \) matches \( r \cdot (18 - 3) \)
• c) \( (r \cdot 18) - (r \cdot 3) \) simplifies to \( r \cdot 18 - r \cdot 3 \)
• d) \( (r \cdot 18) \cdot 3 \) simplifies to \( r \cdot 18 \cdot 3 \)

The expression \( r \cdot (18 - 3) \) is equivalent to option b) \( r \cdot 18 - 3 \).