Question

Gloria decides to buy 4 ferns, 2 Palms, 10 Lilies and 8 shrubs. To show the total

cost of the plants as an expression, first set up an expression showing how the
distributive property can shorten the process and then simplify it.
Step by step

Answer 1

`Total Plants = 4F + 2P + 10L+ 8S`

`Total Plants = 2(2F + P + 5L+ 4S)` --- Distributive property

Explanation:

Given

Ferns = 4

Palms = 2

Lillies = 10

Shrubs = 8

Required

Show the total cost of plants as an expression

Shorten it using the distributive property

First, represent Ferns with F; Palms with P; Lilies with L and Shrubs with S;

So, 4 Ferns = 4F

2 Palms = 2P

10 Lilies = 10L

8 Shrubs = 8S

Total Plants = Summation of the above parameters

`Total Plants = 4F + 2P + 10L+ 8S`

The above expression represents the total plants bought;

Now, to apply the distributive property; we simply look for a common factor;

In this case, the common factor is 2;

So,
`Total Plants = 4F + 2P + 10L+ 8S` becomes

`Total Plants = 2((4F)/(2) + (2P)/(2) + (10L)/(2)+ (8S)/(2))`

`Total Plants = 2(2F + P + 5L+ 4S)`