Final answer:
The distributive property allows us to distribute a multiplication operation over addition or subtraction.
Step-by-step explanation:
The distributive property is a mathematical property that allows us to distribute a multiplication operation over addition or subtraction. It states that for any numbers A, B, and C:
A(B + C) = AB + AC
This means that we can multiply A by both B and C separately and then add the results. Similarly, we can also distribute multiplication over subtraction:
A(B - C) = AB - AC
This property is useful when simplifying algebraic expressions or solving equations. By expanding the expression using the distributive property, we can often eliminate terms and make the algebraic manipulation easier.