Question

Which 2 expressions are equivalent to 3(x+6)?

1. 3+x+3+x
2. (x+6)+(x+6)+(x+6)
3. 3x+6
4. 3x+18

Answer 1

2. (x+6)+(x+6)+(x+6)

4. 3x+18

Why its (x+6)+(x+6)+(x+6)

Since there's a 3 next to (x+6), you are multiplying 3 and (x+6). That means there are three (x+6) groups. Thus, it's just (x+6)+(x+6)+(x+6).

Why its 3x+18

When you use the distributive property, you multiply 3 and x, and multiply 3 and 6, which gives you 3x and 18, which equals 3x+18.