Q&A for How to Use Distributive Property to Solve an Equation

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  • Question
    How would I do -6(a+8)?
    Community Answer
    -6(a+8) = -6a-48, the number outside the bracket multiplies everything inside the bracket. i.e. (-6 x a) + (-6 x 8) = -6a - 48.
  • Question
    Where do I put the parentheses in this equation: 6x+2-2x=4x+12?
    Donagan
    Top Answerer
    On the left side of the equation, enclose "x+2" inside parentheses. It will look like 6(x+2)-2x=4x+12.
  • Question
    How would I solve 9x15=(9x9)+(9x )=?
    Community Answer
    This is an effort to show you that you can rewrite a multiplication problem, using the distributive property. Instead of performing 9x15, you can break the 15 into smaller parts. In this case, someone has chosen 9 and the first part and you have to fill in the rest. Since 9+6=15, the blank space in your problem will be filled in with a 6. You will then have 9x15=(9x9)+(9x6). If you can resolve those two parentheses in your head and add them, you can do the solution. 9x9=81, and 9+6=54, so 81+54=135. Therefore the original problem 9x15=135.
  • Question
    What do I do with a problem evolving two numbers being subtracted outside the parentheses like: Ten minus five Parenthesesnine n minus nine?
    Community Answer
    If the equation looks like this: 10-5(9n-9), then distribute the 5 to the equation inside the parenthesis it will look like this 10-45n-45. You would solve for N like a regular equation and the answer you will later get it:-35-45n.
  • Question
    How do I solve 8x-3 (4-5)?
    Community Answer
    You may have copied this problem incorrectly. You cannot "solve" this expression, because it's not an equation. All you can do is simplify it. Perform the step inside the parentheses first. You will get 8x-3(-1). Then multiply the -3 by -1 to get +3. The simplified expression is 8x+3. Check your source to see if you miscopied the question.
  • Question
    How can distributive property to help you with math?
    Community Answer
    Look at some of the other questions and answers here. It helps simplify complicated problems into easier ones.
  • Question
    How can I change a decimal into a fraction?
    Donagan
    Top Answerer
    Make the decimal the numerator, and use 100 as the denominator, then reduce the fraction if possible.
  • Question
    How do I solve 8(22) as a distributive problem?
    Community Answer
    Find the "difficult" number in the problem and rewrite it as the sum of two "easy" numbers. For example, 22 can be rewritten as (20+2). Then you can write your original problem as 8(20+2). Use the distributive property to get (8)(20)+(8)(2)=160+16=176.
  • Question
    If I had the expression -8a(3b), then would the answer be -24a + 3ab?
    Community Answer
    Since you can't multiply a's and b's together, the answer would just be -8a x 3b.
  • Question
    How do I use the distribution property to find the product of 7 and 16?
    Community Answer
    The distributive property can help you do some mental math and perform multiplication in your head. You can rewrite 7 x 16 as 7(10+6). Then the distributive property makes this fairly easy, as it becomes 7*10=70, and 7*6=42. Just add those two parts together, 70+42=112. Therefore the answer to 7x16=112. If you practice this you can quickly do multiplications in your head.
  • Question
    Use distribute property to solve the following fact 8x6?
    Community Answer
    For single digits, I would not use the distributive property. You should just learn that 8x6=48. Some people like to use the distributive property using 10's. Therefore, instead of multiplying by 8, you would multiply by (10-2). Therefore, 8x6 turns into (10-2)(6). You can then use the distributive property to get (10)(6)-(2)(6)=60-12=48.
  • Question
    How do I solve the problem 4(y + 8)?
    Donagan
    Top Answerer
    You can't "solve" this expression, because it's not an equation. But by the distributive property you can perform the implied multiplication to arrive at 4y + 32.
  • Question
    How do I show the distributive property for 652?
    Donagan
    Top Answerer
    652 = 6(100) + 5(10) + 2(1).
  • Question
    How do you use the distributive property to solve 14x6?
    Community Answer
    When multiplying a number in the "teens," you can break it into 10 and whatever is left. This creates two simple multiplications that you can do in your head. Thus, 14x6=(10+4)(6). Then use the distributive property to rewrite this as (10x6)+(4x6). This is (60)+(24)=84.
  • Question
    Can you show me how to do this problem: -6(b+2)+b-2(-4+6)?
    Donagan
    Top Answerer
    The "b+2" is multiplied by the "-6" in front of it: that makes it "-6b-12." In the other parentheses, "-4+6" is the same as "+2." That's multiplied by the "-2" in front of it, making it "-4." The "+b" in the middle of the expression isn't multiplied by anything, so it remains unchanged. So you have "-6b-12+b-4," which simplifies to "-5b-16."
  • Question
    How do I solve 2(9x-8)=8(x-7)?
    Community Answer
    2*9x-2*8=8*x-8*7, 18x-16=8x-56, 18x-8x=56+16, 10x=72, x=72/10, x=36/5. So, the answer is x=7-1/5.
  • Question
    How do I use the distributive property on the expression -2(a - 5)?
    Donagan
    Top Answerer
    -2(a - 5) = -2(a) - 2(-5) = -2a + 10 = 10 - 2a.
  • Question
    How do I perform PEMDAS for (2x² +7) / 3 = 13?
    Donagan
    Top Answerer
    Multiply both sides by 3: 2x² + 7 = 39. Subtract 7 from both sides: 2x² = 32. Divide both sides by 2: x² = 16. Find the square root of both sides: x = +/-4. (PEMDAS does not necessarily apply when solving an equation. It is applied mainly when simplifying expressions.)
  • Question
    How do I solve 59 x 6 using distributive property?
    Donagan
    Top Answerer
    6(59) = 6(50 + 9) = 6(50) + 6(9) = 300 + 54 = 354.
  • Question
    How do you know if you got the answer right without going back and solving the equation again?
    Donagan
    Top Answerer
    Take the value(s) you calculated and substitute it back into the original equation to see if it works.
  • Question
    Can u combine 3x with x?
    Donagan
    Top Answerer
    If by "combine" you mean "add," 3x + x = 3x + 1x = 4x.
  • Question
    How would I solve 12(7) - 5(7) using distributive property?
    Tina X
    Community Answer
    You would take the 7 out. Then it will turn into 7(12-5), which equals to 7x7 = 49.
  • Question
    What is 14x + 14y using the distributive property?
    Rainy
    Top Answerer
    You can't use the distributive property for this problem. It is also impossible to simplify without knowing the value of the variables.
  • Question
    How would I solve 2(x⁵+3x²+8x+7)?
    I_l1ke_gam3s
    Community Answer
    You cannot "solve" this because it's not an equation, but you can perform the multiplication: 2x^5 + 6x² + 16x + 14.
  • Question
    Given this expression: 60÷5(2+4), do I first perform 60÷5, then apply that result of 12 to the terms inside the parentheses? As in 12(2+4) = 24+48 =72. Or distribute the 5 first, 60÷(10+20)=2?
    Community Answer
    Do what is inside the parentheses first: 2 + 4 = 6. Next multiply and divide: 60 / [(5)(6)] = 60/30 = 2.
  • Question
    What is an easy way to remember the distributive properties steps?
    I_l1ke_gam3s
    Community Answer
    a(b +c) = ab + ac. a(b - c) = ab - ac.
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