Arithmetic Grade Six

Lesson One Hundred Thirty-two: Distributive Property


As you might expect the distributive property still works with a number sentence containing subtraction:


	3 * ( 4 - 2 ) = 3 * 4 - 3 * 2

Prove to yourself that it is true by finding the value of the side to the right of the equal sign and the side to the left of the equal sign.

	LEFT SIDE:   3 * ( 4 - 2) = 3 * 2 = 6

	RIGHT SIDE:  3 * 4 - 3 * 2 = 12 - 6 = 6

This example shows how the distributive property of multiplication works.

Here's another example:


	7 * ( 3 - 2 ) = 7 * 3 - 7 * 2

	LEFT SIDE:   7 * ( 3 - 2 ) = 7 * 1 = 7

	RIGHT SIDE:  7 * 3 - 7 * 2 = 21 - 14 = 7

Now you get to try a few of these yourself.

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