Elementary Test Prep: Math 4 Test (Grades 3-4) Distributive Property

Lesson Page Operations

The Distributive Property is
is an algebra property which helps to multiply
a single term and two or more terms inside parenthesis.

The Distributive Property
makes solving some math problems easier.

This is the Distributive Property in 'action':

    a (b+c)= (ab)+(ac)
       5 (4 + 3) = (5x4) + (5x3)
    5 x 7 = 20 + 15
35 = 35

and

      a (b-c)= (ab)-(ac)
           3 (6-4) = (3x6) - (3x4)
     3 x 2 = 18 - 12
6 = 6

It does not matter which way you figure out a problem
like the ones above,
but using the Distributive Property,
is distributing the number that is outside the parentheses
to the numbers inside the parentheses.

REMEMBER:
The Distributive Property says:
you can multiply the number outside the parenthesis
by the other numbers on the inside of the parenthesis
and then add or subtract accordingly.