Mastering the Distributive Property in Mathematics: Step-by-Step Guide and Example

distribute

When we talk about “distributing” in mathematics, we are referring to the process of multiplying each term in one set of parentheses with every term in the other set of parentheses

When we talk about “distributing” in mathematics, we are referring to the process of multiplying each term in one set of parentheses with every term in the other set of parentheses. This is also known as the distributive property.

To properly distribute, follow these steps:

1. Identify the terms inside each set of parentheses.

2. Multiply the first term in the first set of parentheses with every term in the second set of parentheses.

3. Multiply the second term in the first set of parentheses with every term in the second set of parentheses.

4. Simplify the expressions obtained from each multiplication.

5. Combine like terms, if applicable.

Let’s illustrate this with an example:

Consider the expression: (2x + 3)(5y – 1)

To distribute, we multiply each term in the first set of parentheses (2x and 3) with each term in the second set of parentheses (5y and -1):

(2x)(5y) + (2x)(-1) + (3)(5y) + (3)(-1)

Now, simplify the individual expressions:

10xy – 2x + 15y – 3

Finally, combine like terms, if any:

10xy – 2x + 15y – 3

And that’s how you distribute an expression!

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