This lesson covers what the distributive property is and how to use it to help solve multiplication problems. Also covered is how to use it to do mental math.
Skip to:
The Distributive Property say that
| multiplying a number by a group of numbers added together | $5 * (7 + 4)$ |
| is the same as doing each multiplication separately | $(5 * 7) + (5 * 4) $ |
| $5 * (7 + 4)$ | $=$ | $(5 * 7) + (5 * 4)$ |
| $5 * (11)$ | $=$ | $(35) + (20)$ |
| $55$ | $=$ | $55$ |
 |
$=$ |  |
The Distributive Property can be expressed as:
a $*$ (b + c) = a $*$ b + b $*$ c
Ok, so how does this help me?
Lets say you need to by 15 baseball hats for your school team. Each hat costs \$5 at DiscountMugs.
So you could multiply $5 * 15$
or you use the distributive property.
| $5 * (10 + 5)$ |
| $(5 * 10) + (5 * 5)$ |
| $50 + 25$ |
| $75$ |
