<< Chapter < Page Chapter >> Page >
This module is from Fundamentals of Mathematics by Denny Burzynski and Wade Ellis, Jr. This module discusses using the distributive property. By the end of the module students should understand the distributive property and be able to obtain the exact result of a multiplication using the distributive property.

Section overview

  • The Distributive Property
  • Estimation Using the Distributive Property

The distributive property

Distributive property

The distributive property is a characteristic of numbers that involves both addition and multiplication. It is used often in algebra, and we can use it now to obtain exact results for a multiplication.

Suppose we wish to compute 3 ( 2 + 5 ) size 12{3 \( "2 "+" 5" \) } {} . We can proceed in either of two ways, one way which is known to us already (the order of operations), and a new way (the distributive property).

  1. Compute 3 ( 2 + 5 ) size 12{3 \( "2 "+" 5" \) } {} using the order of operations.

    3 ( 2 + 5 ) size 12{3 \( "2 "+" 5" \) } {}

    Operate inside the parentheses first: 2 + 5 = 7 size 12{"2 "+" 5 "=" 7"} {} .

    3 ( 2 + 5 ) = 3 7 size 12{3 \( "2 "+" 5" \) =" 3 " cdot " 7"} {}

    Now multiply 3 and 7.

    3 ( 2 + 5 ) = 3 7 = 21 size 12{3 \( "2 "+" 5" \) =" 3 " cdot " 7 "=" 21"} {}

    Thus, 3 ( 2 + 5 ) = 21 size 12{3 \( "2 "+" 5" \) =" 21"} {} .

  2. Compute 3 ( 2 + 5 ) size 12{3 \( "2 "+" 5" \) } {} using the distributive property.

    We know that multiplication describes repeated addition. Thus,

    3 ( 2 + 5 ) = 2 + 5 + 2 + 5 + 2 + 5 2 + 5 appears 3 times = 2 + 2 + 2 + 5 + 5 + 5 (by the commutative property of addition) = 3 2 + 3 5 (since multiplication describes repeated addition) = 6 + 15 = 21

    Thus, 3 ( 2 + 5 ) = 21 size 12{3 \( "2 "+" 5" \) =" 21"} {} .

    Let's look again at this use of the distributive property.

    3 ( 2 + 5 ) = 2 + 5 + 2 + 5 + 2 + 5 2 + 5 appears 3 times

    3 ( 2 + 5 ) = 2 + 2 + 2 2 appears 3 times + 5 + 5 + 5 5 appears 3 times

    3 times the quantity two plus five. Arrows point from the three to both the two and the five. This is equal to three times two plus three times five.

    The 3 has been distributed to the 2 and 5.

    This is the distributive property. We distribute the factor to each addend in the parentheses. The distributive property works for both sums and differences.

Sample set a

4 times the quantity 6 plus 2. Arrows point from the 4 to both the 6 and the 2. This is equal to 4 times 6 plus 4 times 2. This is equal to 24 plus 8, which is equal to 32.

Using the order of operations, we get

4 ( 6 + 2 ) = 4 8 = 32

Got questions? Get instant answers now!

8 times the quantity 9 plus 6. Arrows point from the 8 to both the 9 and the 6. This is equal to 8 times 9 plus 8 times 6. This is equal to 72 plus 48, which is equal to 120.

Using the order of operations, we get

8 ( 9 + 6 ) = 8 15 = 120

Got questions? Get instant answers now!

Practice set a

Use the distributive property to compute each value.

6 ( 8 + 4 ) size 12{6 \( "8 "+" 4" \) } {}

6 8 + 6 4 = 48 + 24 = 72

Got questions? Get instant answers now!

4 ( 4 + 7 ) size 12{4 \( "4 "+" 7" \) } {}

4 4 + 4 7 = 16 + 28 = 44

Got questions? Get instant answers now!

8 ( 2 + 9 ) size 12{8 \( "2 "+" 9" \) } {}

8 2 + 8 9 = 16 + 72 = 88

Got questions? Get instant answers now!

12 ( 10 + 3 ) size 12{"12" \( "10 "+" 3" \) } {}

12 10 + 12 3 = 120 + 36 = 156

Got questions? Get instant answers now!

6 ( 11 - 3 ) size 12{6 \( "11 - 3" \) } {}

6 11 - 6 3 = 66 - 18 = 48

Got questions? Get instant answers now!

8 ( 9 - 7 ) size 12{8 \( "9 - 7" \) } {}

8 9 8 7 = 72 56 = 16

Got questions? Get instant answers now!

15 ( 30 - 8 ) size 12{"15" \( "30 - 8" \) } {}

15 30 - 15 8 = 450 - 120 = 330

Got questions? Get instant answers now!

Estimation using the distributive property

We can use the distributive property to obtain exact results for products such as 25 23 size 12{"25 " cdot " 23"} {} . The distributive property works best for products when one of the factors ends in 0 or 5. We shall restrict our attention to only such products.

Sample set b

Use the distributive property to compute each value.

25 23 size 12{"25 " cdot " 23"} {}

Notice that 23 = 20 + 3 size 12{"23 "=" 20 "+" 3"} {} . We now write

25 times 23 equals 25 times the quantity 20 plus 3. This is equal to 25 times 20 plus 25 times 3. This is equal to 500 + 75. This is equal to 575.

Thus, 25 23 = 575 size 12{"25 " cdot " 23 "=" 575"} {}

We could have proceeded by writing 23 as 30 - 7 size 12{"30 - 7"} {} .

25 times 23 equals 25 times the quantity 30 minus 7. This is equal to 25 times 30 minus 25 times 7. This is equal to 750 minus 175. This is equal to 575.

Got questions? Get instant answers now!

15 37 size 12{"15 " cdot " 37"} {}

Notice that 37 = 30 + 7 size 12{"37 "=" 30 "+" 7"} {} . We now write

15 times 37 equals 15 times the quantity 30 plus 7. This is equal to 15 times 30 plus 15 times 7. This is equal to 450 plus 105, which is equal to 555.

Thus, 15 37 = 555 size 12{"15 " cdot " 37 "=" 555"} {}

We could have proceeded by writing 37 as 40 - 3 size 12{"40 - 3"} {} .

15 times 37 equals 15 times the quantity 40 minus 3. This is equal to 15 times 40 plus 15 times 3. This is equal to 600 minus 45, which is equal to 555.

Got questions? Get instant answers now!

15 86 size 12{"15 " cdot " 86"} {}

Notice that 86 = 80 + 6 size 12{"86 "=" 80 "+" 6"} {} . We now write

15 times 86 equals 15 times the quantity 80 plus 6. This is equal to 15 times 80 plus 15 times 6. This is equal to 1,200 plus 90, which is equal to 1,290.

We could have proceeded by writing 86 as 90 - 4 size 12{"90 - 4"} {} .

15 times 86 equals 15 times the quantity 90 minus 4. This is equal to 15 times 90 minus 15 times 4. This is equal to 1,350 minus 60, which is equal to 1,290.

Got questions? Get instant answers now!

Practice set b

Use the distributive property to compute each value.

25 12 size 12{"25 " cdot " 12"} {}

25 10 + 2 = 25 10 + 25 2 = 250 + 50 = 300 size 12{"25" left ("10"+2 right )="25" cdot "10"+"25" cdot 2="250"+"50"="300"} {}

Got questions? Get instant answers now!

35 14 size 12{"35 " cdot " 14"} {}

35 10 + 4 = 35 10 + 35 4 = 350 + 140 = 490 size 12{"35" left ("10"+4 right )="35" cdot "10"+"35" cdot 4="350"+"140"="490"} {}

Got questions? Get instant answers now!

80 58 size 12{"80 " cdot " 58"} {}

80 50 + 8 = 80 50 + 80 8 = 4, 000 + 640 = 4, 640 size 12{"80" left ("50"+8 right )="80" cdot "50"+"80" cdot 8=4,"000"+"640"=4,"640"} {}

Got questions? Get instant answers now!

65 62 size 12{"65 " cdot " 62"} {}

65 60 + 2 = 65 60 + 65 2 = 3, 900 + 130 = 4, 030 size 12{"65" left ("60"+2 right )="65" cdot "60"+"65" cdot 2=3,"900"+"130"=4,"030"} {}

Got questions? Get instant answers now!

Exercises

Use the distributive property to compute each product.

15 13 size 12{"15" cdot "13"} {}

15 ( 10 + 3 ) = 150 + 45 = 195 size 12{"15" \( "10"+3 \) ="150"+"45"="195"} {}

Got questions? Get instant answers now!

15 14 size 12{"15" cdot "14"} {}

Got questions? Get instant answers now!

25 11 size 12{"25" cdot "11"} {}

25 ( 10 + 1 ) = 250 + 25 = 275 size 12{"25" \( "10"+1 \) ="250"+"25"="275"} {}

Got questions? Get instant answers now!

25 16 size 12{"25" cdot "16"} {}

Got questions? Get instant answers now!

15 16 size 12{"15" cdot "16"} {}

15 20 4 = 300 60 = 240 size 12{"15" left ("20" - 4 right )="300" - "60"="240"} {}

Got questions? Get instant answers now!

35 12 size 12{"35" cdot "12"} {}

Got questions? Get instant answers now!

45 83 size 12{"45" cdot "83"} {}

45 80 + 3 = 3600 + 135 = 3735 size 12{"45" left ("80"+3 right )="3600"+"135"="3735"} {}

Got questions? Get instant answers now!

45 38 size 12{"45" cdot "38"} {}

Got questions? Get instant answers now!

25 38 size 12{"25" cdot "38"} {}

25 40 2 = 1, 000 50 = 950 size 12{"25" left ("40" - 2 right )=1,"000" - "50"="950"} {}

Got questions? Get instant answers now!

25 96 size 12{"25" cdot "96"} {}

Got questions? Get instant answers now!

75 14 size 12{"75" cdot "14"} {}

75 10 + 4 = 750 + 300 = 1, 050 size 12{"75" left ("10"+4 right )="750"+"300"=1,"050"} {}

Got questions? Get instant answers now!

85 34 size 12{"85" cdot "34"} {}

Got questions? Get instant answers now!

65 26 size 12{"65" cdot "26"} {}

65 20 + 6 = 1, 300 + 390 = 1, 690 size 12{"65" left ("20"+6 right )=1,"300"+"390"=1,"690"} {} or   65 30 4 = 1, 950 260 = 1, 690 size 12{"65" left ("30" - 4 right )=1,"950" - "260"=1,"690"} {}

Got questions? Get instant answers now!

55 51 size 12{"55" cdot "51"} {}

Got questions? Get instant answers now!

15 107 size 12{"15" cdot "107"} {}

15 100 + 7 = 1, 500 + 105 = 1, 605 size 12{"15" left ("100"+7 right )=1,"500"+"105"=1,"605"} {}

Got questions? Get instant answers now!

25 208 size 12{"25" cdot "208"} {}

Got questions? Get instant answers now!

35 402 size 12{"35" cdot "402"} {}

35 400 + 2 = 14 , 000 + 70 = 14 , 070 size 12{"35" left ("400"+2 right )="14","000"+"70"="14","070"} {}

Got questions? Get instant answers now!

85 110 size 12{"85" cdot "110"} {}

Got questions? Get instant answers now!

95 12 size 12{"95" cdot "12"} {}

95 10 + 2 = 950 + 190 = 1, 140 size 12{"95" left ("10"+2 right )="950"+"190"=1,"140"} {}

Got questions? Get instant answers now!

65 40 size 12{"65" cdot "40"} {}

Got questions? Get instant answers now!

80 32 size 12{"80" cdot "32"} {}

80 30 + 2 = 2, 400 + 160 = 2, 560 size 12{"80" left ("30"+2 right )=2,"400"+"160"=2,"560"} {}

Got questions? Get instant answers now!

30 47 size 12{"30" cdot "47"} {}

Got questions? Get instant answers now!

50 63 size 12{"50" cdot "63"} {}

50 60 + 3 = 3, 000 + 150 = 3, 150 size 12{"50" left ("60"+3 right )=3,"000"+"150"=3,"150"} {}

Got questions? Get instant answers now!

90 78 size 12{"90" cdot "78"} {}

Got questions? Get instant answers now!

40 89 size 12{"40" cdot "89"} {}

40 90 1 = 3, 600 40 = 3, 560 size 12{"40" left ("90" - 1 right )=3,"600" - "40"=3,"560"} {}

Got questions? Get instant answers now!

Exercises for review

( [link] ) Find the greatest common factor of 360 and 3,780.

Got questions? Get instant answers now!

( [link] ) Reduce 594 5, 148 size 12{ { {"594"} over {5,"148"} } } {} to lowest terms.

3 26 size 12{ { {3} over {"26"} } } {}

Got questions? Get instant answers now!

( [link] ) 1 5 9 size 12{1 { {5} over {9} } } {} of 2 4 7 size 12{2 { {4} over {7} } } {} is what number?

Got questions? Get instant answers now!

( [link] ) Solve the proportion: 7 15 = x 90 size 12{ { {7} over {"15"} } = { {x} over {"90"} } } {} .

x = 42 size 12{x="42"} {}

Got questions? Get instant answers now!

( [link] ) Use the clustering method to estimate the sum: 88 + 106 + 91 + 114 size 12{"88 "+" 106 "+" 91 "+" 114"} {} .

Got questions? Get instant answers now!

Questions & Answers

how does Neisseria cause meningitis
Nyibol Reply
what is microbiologist
Muhammad Reply
what is errata
Muhammad
is the branch of biology that deals with the study of microorganisms.
Ntefuni Reply
What is microbiology
Mercy Reply
studies of microbes
Louisiaste
when we takee the specimen which lumbar,spin,
Ziyad Reply
How bacteria create energy to survive?
Muhamad Reply
Bacteria doesn't produce energy they are dependent upon their substrate in case of lack of nutrients they are able to make spores which helps them to sustain in harsh environments
_Adnan
But not all bacteria make spores, l mean Eukaryotic cells have Mitochondria which acts as powerhouse for them, since bacteria don't have it, what is the substitution for it?
Muhamad
they make spores
Louisiaste
what is sporadic nd endemic, epidemic
Aminu Reply
the significance of food webs for disease transmission
Abreham
food webs brings about an infection as an individual depends on number of diseased foods or carriers dully.
Mark
explain assimilatory nitrate reduction
Esinniobiwa Reply
Assimilatory nitrate reduction is a process that occurs in some microorganisms, such as bacteria and archaea, in which nitrate (NO3-) is reduced to nitrite (NO2-), and then further reduced to ammonia (NH3).
Elkana
This process is called assimilatory nitrate reduction because the nitrogen that is produced is incorporated in the cells of microorganisms where it can be used in the synthesis of amino acids and other nitrogen products
Elkana
Examples of thermophilic organisms
Shu Reply
Give Examples of thermophilic organisms
Shu
advantages of normal Flora to the host
Micheal Reply
Prevent foreign microbes to the host
Abubakar
they provide healthier benefits to their hosts
ayesha
They are friends to host only when Host immune system is strong and become enemies when the host immune system is weakened . very bad relationship!
Mark
what is cell
faisal Reply
cell is the smallest unit of life
Fauziya
cell is the smallest unit of life
Akanni
ok
Innocent
cell is the structural and functional unit of life
Hasan
is the fundamental units of Life
Musa
what are emergency diseases
Micheal Reply
There are nothing like emergency disease but there are some common medical emergency which can occur simultaneously like Bleeding,heart attack,Breathing difficulties,severe pain heart stock.Hope you will get my point .Have a nice day ❣️
_Adnan
define infection ,prevention and control
Innocent
I think infection prevention and control is the avoidance of all things we do that gives out break of infections and promotion of health practices that promote life
Lubega
Heyy Lubega hussein where are u from?
_Adnan
en français
Adama
which site have a normal flora
ESTHER Reply
Many sites of the body have it Skin Nasal cavity Oral cavity Gastro intestinal tract
Safaa
skin
Asiina
skin,Oral,Nasal,GIt
Sadik
How can Commensal can Bacteria change into pathogen?
Sadik
How can Commensal Bacteria change into pathogen?
Sadik
all
Tesfaye
by fussion
Asiina
what are the advantages of normal Flora to the host
Micheal
what are the ways of control and prevention of nosocomial infection in the hospital
Micheal
what is inflammation
Shelly Reply
part of a tissue or an organ being wounded or bruised.
Wilfred
what term is used to name and classify microorganisms?
Micheal Reply
Binomial nomenclature
adeolu
Got questions? Join the online conversation and get instant answers!
Jobilize.com Reply

Get Jobilize Job Search Mobile App in your pocket Now!

Get it on Google Play Download on the App Store Now




Source:  OpenStax, Fundamentals of mathematics. OpenStax CNX. Aug 18, 2010 Download for free at http://cnx.org/content/col10615/1.4
Google Play and the Google Play logo are trademarks of Google Inc.

Notification Switch

Would you like to follow the 'Fundamentals of mathematics' conversation and receive update notifications?

Ask