Simplifying and Evaluating Expressions Using the Distributive Property

Simplifying and Evaluating Expressions Using the Distributive Property

Introduction

The distributive property helps rewrite expressions in equivalent forms. It can make expressions easier to simplify and evaluate by multiplying a factor by each term inside...

Imagine you need to buy 4 items at 37 dollars each.

We need to find 4 × 37. Since 37 is 3 tens and 7 ones, we can write it as 30 + 7.

This lets us use the distributive property by multiplying 4 by both 30 and 7 separately.

Rewrite the expression as 4(30 + 7).

The distributive property lets you multiply 4 by each part of ...