16/03/2019 (1) Distributive Property | Brilliant Math & Science Wiki

Distributive Property

The distributive property is the rule that relates addition and multiplication. Specifically, it states that

It is a useful tool for expanding expressions, evaluating expressions, and simplifying expressions.

For a more advanced treatment of the distributive property, see how it can be applied to multiplying polynomials.

Contents
Single Term

Multiple Terms
Problem Solving

Single Term

The distributive property helps us make sense of multiplication:

It also shows us how to expand algebraic expressions:

EXAMPLE

Expand .

We have

EXAMPLE

Simplify and combine all like terms: .

Applying the distributive rule, we get:

Here is an example where the distributive property is applied to a polynomial with two variables, and .

EXAMPLE

Simplify and combine all like terms: .

Applying the distributive rule, we get:

https://brilliant.org/wiki/distributive-property/#distributive-property-multiple-terms 1/4
16/03/2019 (1) Distributive Property | Brilliant Math & Science Wiki

TRY IT YOURSELF

What is the coefficient of after you simplify the expression : 95

101

97

99

Multiple Terms

In the previous section, we only had pair of parentheses to distribute across. When applied to polynomial expressions,
generalize this rule to the statement "multiply every term by every other". For example, when multiplying
distribute by multiplying by and then by , giving us
Notice that the product has four terms, corresponding to the products of the first, outside, inside, and last pairs of terms
remembered by the acronym "FOIL").

EXAMPLE

What is the product of and ?

Using the distributive property, we get .

EXAMPLE

Expand .

We have

This generalizes to product of many more terms. Always be careful to ensure that you have obtained every possible pair
product. Be systematic and work through each term, before moving on to the next.

EXAMPLE

What is ?

We take the first term in the first parenthesis and multiply it to every term in the second parenthesis, to obtain

We take the second term in the first parenthesis and multiply it to every term in the second parenthesis, to obtain
.

We take the third term in the first parenthesis and multiply it to every term in the second parenthesis, to obtain

The final product is equal to the sum of all of these terms, which is

TRY IT YOURSELF

What is the coefficient of in the expansion of the expression 5

8
https://brilliant.org/wiki/distributive-property/#distributive-property-multiple-terms 2/4
16/03/2019 (1) Distributive Property | Brilliant Math & Science Wiki

11

TRY IT YOURSELF

If and , what is the value of Submit your answ

EXAMPLE

Simplify .

Since all the coefficients are or we have to be very careful with our signs. Use a similar approach to the previous
problem, where we took the first term and multiply throughout, before moving on to the second term. For this problem
obtain

We start to see how something as simple as the distributive property could result in a lot of careless mistakes if one is no
Always be systematic in your approach of expanding.

Problem Solving

The distributive property is especially useful when used to simplify an expression, rather than expand it. In these cases,
always obvious that it should be applied.

EXAMPLE

Find the value of

We want to avoid doing lots of calculation. Looking at the numerator, we make a clever observation that it might be the
expansion of a product from the distributive property. In particular,

Thus, the answer is

To make sure you've got that idea down, give this problem a shot:

TRY IT YOURSELF

Correct!
The answer is 2013
81% of people got this right

https://brilliant.org/wiki/distributive-property/#distributive-property-multiple-terms 3/4
16/03/2019 (1) Distributive Property | Brilliant Math & Science Wiki

Continue

View solutions

Looking for an extra challenge? Try this example!

TRY IT YOURSELF

Correct!
The answer is 1333
We are given that . Find the value of the expression above. 66% of people got this right

Hint: Try to factorize the expression. Continue

View solutions

Cite as: Distributive Property. Brilliant.org. Retrieved 21:44, March 16, 2019, from https://brilliant.org/wiki/distributive-property/

Rate This Wiki: Give feedback ab

https://brilliant.org/wiki/distributive-property/#distributive-property-multiple-terms 4/4