Question

What algebraic

property is
demonstrated in the
equation below?
3 + 2(3x - 8) = 3 + 6x -
24

Answer 1

Distributive Property

Explanation:

Our initial expression is 3 + 2(3x - 8), which has parentheses. We notice that the result doesn't have parentheses, so that means we must have done something to get rid of them.

Notice that the first term, which is 3, doesn't change in either side, but the 2(3x - 8) on the left does not appear the same as 6x - 16. However, look more closely. 2(3x - 8) means that 2 is multiplied by the expression 3x - 8. In order to expand this out, we'd have to use the distributive property, which states that for an expression a(b + c), the outcome is ab + ac.

Here, a = 2, b = 3x, and c = -8, so we have:

2(3x - 8)

2 * 3x + 2 * (-8)

6x - 16

Thus, the answer is distributive property.

Answer 2

Explanation:

Step 1: Determine the property used

`3 + 2(3x - 8)`

`3 + 2(a + b)`

`3 + (2 * a) + (2 * b)`

`3 + 2a + 2b`

Answer: This property is known as Distributive