ACT Preparation / Unit 7 ACT 0604 short lesson, about 20 seconds
The Distributive Property
Captions available
The idea
The distributive property says a(b + c) = ab + ac: a factor outside parentheses multiplies every term inside. It runs both ways, so ab + ac can be factored back into a(b + c).
In practice
3(x − 4) = 3x − 12, and −2(x − 5) = −2x + 10.
Where people slip
The negative sign distributes too: −2 times −5 is +10, not −10.
Your place on the trail
Every lesson rests on earlier ones and opens later ones. Tap any to jump.
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