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Distributive Property
See It in Action
Two examples of the idea done right—and one common look-alike that is not right.
EXAMPLE
EXAMPLE
NON-EXAMPLE
Definition
The distributive property is a fundamental principle in algebra that describes how multiplication interacts with addition or subtraction. It states that for any numbers a, b, and c:
a • (b + c) = a • b + a • c
Similarly, it works with subtraction:
a • (b - c) = a • b - a • c
In essence, the distributive property allows you to "distribute" a multiplier across terms inside parentheses, making it easier to simplify expressions or solve equations. For example:
3 • (4 + 5) = 3 • 4 + 3 • 5 = 12 + 15 = 27
Video
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