Understanding the Distributive Property with Area Models

What is the formula used to calculate the area of a rectangle?

• Area = length / width

• Area = length + width

• Area = length - width

• Area = length * width

In the first method of calculating the total area, what is the first step?

• Divide the lengths of the rectangles

• Add the lengths of the rectangles

• Subtract the lengths of the rectangles

• Multiply the widths of the rectangles

How do you find the total area using the second method?

• Divide the area of one rectangle by the other

• Subtract the area of one rectangle from the other

• Add the areas of each rectangle

• Multiply the total length by the width

What does the distributive property state?

• A factor multiplied by a sum is equal to dividing the products

• A factor multiplied by a sum is equal to multiplying that factor by each addend and then adding the products

• A factor multiplied by a sum is equal to subtracting the products

• A factor multiplied by a sum is equal to the sum of the factors

Which algebraic expression represents the distributive property?

• a * (b + c) = a * b - a * c

• a * (b + c) = a * b + a * c

• a * (b + c) = a + b + c

• a * (b + c) = a / b + a / c