The distributive property is a fundamental principle in mathematics that explains how to multiply a number by a sum or difference of numbers. It states that you can distribute the multiplication over addition or subtraction.
For example, if you have an expression like a(b + c), you can apply the distributive property to rewrite it as ab + ac. This means you multiply a by both b and c separately and then add the results together.
This property also works with subtraction. So, if you have a(b – c), you can distribute a to both terms to get ab – ac.
In summary:
- a(b + c) = ab + ac
- a(b – c) = ab – ac
The distributive property is particularly useful in simplifying expressions and solving equations. It allows us to break down complex problems into simpler parts that are easier to manage.