Distributive Property of Algebraic Expressions

Algebra - Distributive Property

ILEARN Review & Practice

Equivalent Statements

We are going to look at how we can use the distribute property to write equivalent mathematical statements.

First, let's practice our distributive property.

Multiple Choice

Which is equivalent to the following expression?

$$2\left(3-4\right)$$  

• $$2\left(3\right)-2\left(4\right)$$  

• $$23-24$$  

• $$2\left(3\right)+2\left(4\right)$$  

• $$2\left(4\right)-2\left(3\right)$$  

Distributive Property & Algebra

The distributive property also works for algebraic statements as well.

Remember 2 * x = 2x.

Multiple Choice

Find the equivalent statement to the given expression. $$3\left(x-4\right)$$  

• $$3x-8$$  

• $$3x-12$$  

• $$x-12$$  

• $$3x-4$$  

Multiple Choice

Let's try another one. Which statement is equivalent to the given expression?

$$-2\left(x+4\right)$$  

• $$2x+8$$  

• $$-2x+8$$  

• $$-2x-8$$  

• $$2x-8$$  

Undoing Distributive Property

We also need to know how to undo distributive property.
This process is called factoring.

Let's look at an example.

 $4x-16=4\left(x-4\right)$  

Multiple Choice

You try now.

Which statement is equivalent to the given expression?

$$3.2x+6.4$$

• $$3.2\left(x+2\right)$$  

• $$2\left(1.6x+2\right)$$  

• $$2+x\cdot3.2$$