Final answer:
Philip determined the correct product utilizing the distributive property as -301/4. This was obtained by converting the mixed number to an improper fraction, multiplying by -15, and then simplifying the fraction.
Step-by-step explanation:
To find the product of -15 and 5 1/60, first, we should express the mixed number 5 1/60 as an improper fraction. We multiply the whole number 5 by the denominator 60 and add the numerator 1, giving us 301 as the new numerator with the denominator remaining 60. Now, 5 1/60 is expressed as 301/60.
Secondly, to determine the product, we apply the distributive property by multiplying the numerator of the fraction (301) by -15. This is a case where we have a negative times a positive, which will result in a negative product.
-15 * (301/60) = (-15 * 301) / 60 = -4515 / 60.
Finally, we can simplify this fraction if possible. In this case, the numerator and the denominator both have a common factor of 15. Dividing the numerator and the denominator by 15 we get:
-4515 / 60 ÷ 15/15 = -301 / 4, which cannot be simplified further.
Therefore, the answer is -301/4.