Question

Explain how you know whether to add or subtract when you use the distributive property to multiply

Answer 1

if the all the symbols in distributive property are in symbol subtraction so we have to subtract and when all the symbols are in addition so we have to add kk

Answer 2

Step-by-step explanation:

There are two things you look out for:

1. The sign of the value that you are distributing

2. The sign of the terms that are distributed to.

Example 1:

-3(3x + 5)

Here, we are distributing (-3),

= (-3)(3x) + (-3)(5)

= -9x - 15

Example 2:

3(3x - 5)

Here, we are distributing a positive number, 3.

But note that the 2nd term is negative

= 3(3x) + (3)(-5)

= 9x - 15