Distributive Property

Distributive Property

x -(4x+5)

Distributive Property is an algebra property that is used to multiply a single term and two or more terms inside a set of parentheses. When I do distributive property I know to multiply the outside numbers by the inside numbers. That’s all you really need to know. As you read on I will give you same examples to give you an idea on how to do distributive property.

For Example:

This is not the right way to do this problem.

Step 1. 8(3+7)

Step 2. 8*3+7

Step 3. 24+7

Step 4. =31

This is the right way to do this problem.
Step 1. 8(3+7)

Step 2. 8*3=24

Step 3. 8*7=56

Step 4. 24+56

Step 5. =80

For the problem x-(4x+5) you would think you would have to multiply the (X) with the two numbers in the parentheses which is 4x+5. A lot of people make this common mistake. In fact x-(4x+5) you don’t multiply the numbers in the parentheses with (X) but, with the (-).
For Example: you can rewrite the problem like this.

Step 1. x+-1(4x+5)
* only use the -1 in the multiplication
Step 2. -1*4x=-4x

Step 3. -1*5= -5

Step 4. Rewrite as 1x+-4x-5

Step 5. You get -3x-5