what is distributive properties of multiplication?
The sum of two numbers times a third number is equal to the sum of each added number times the third number. For example 4 * (6 + 3) = 4*6 + 4*3.
you will do these steps:
4*(6+3)=4*6+4*3
4*9 = 24+12
36= 24+12
answer is 36
Always perform the operations in () parentheses first.
The distributive property of multiplication is a fundamental property that helps simplify computations with numbers. It states that when you multiply a number by the sum (or difference) of two other numbers, it is the same as multiplying each individual number by the first number and then adding (or subtracting) the products.
The distributive property can be stated as follows:
For any numbers a, b, and c: a * (b + c) = a * b + a * c
This property holds true for both multiplication and division. However, we will focus on multiplication here.
To understand the distributive property, let's consider an example:
Suppose we have the expression 3 * (4 + 2). To simplify this expression using the distributive property, we need to distribute the 3 to both the 4 and the 2:
3 * 4 + 3 * 2
This simplifies to:
12 + 6 = 18
So, the original expression of 3 * (4 + 2) is equal to 18.
In essence, the distributive property allows us to break down a multiplication involving addition or subtraction into simpler multiplication operations. It provides a useful tool for simplifying calculations and finding equivalent expressions.