Question

D) Later, Jerry purchased items for his garden in his new yard. He purchased plants for $15 and bags of soil for $15. Jerry used the expression 15 (x + y) Valerie used the expression 15x + 15y Are the expressions equivalent? Justify your reasoning using number properties. E

Answer 1

Jerry purchased items for his garden

Let the items purchased be x and y

He purchased plants for $15 and bags of soil for $15

Jerry used the expression: 15(x + y)

Valerie used the expression: 15x + 15y

The expressions are equivalent

Using the distributive property

a * (b + c ) = ab + ac

therefore, 15(x + y ) is equivalent to 15x + 15y

15(x + y) = 15 * x + 15 * y

15(x + y) = 15x + 15y