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Math Skills Overview Guide

Distributive Property

What does it mean?

Definitions:

For any real numbers a, b and c $$a(b + c) = ab + ac$$ $$(b + c)a = ba + ca$$ When dealing with the distributive law, just remember to multiply everything on the inside of the parentheses by the number on the outside of the parentheses.

 What does it look like?

A general example to help you recognize patterns and spot the information you're looking for

$$3(b + c) = 3b + 3c$$ $$(b + c)3 = b3 + c3$$

You'll use it...

It’s used when you change money or distribute bulk quantities into smaller packages.

  Video: Distributive Property

  Video: Solve an Equation with the Distributive Property

  Video: Algebra: Linear Equations 1

  Video: Algebra: Linear Equations 2

  Video: Algebra: Linear Equations 3