How do you multiply using the distributive property #5(31)#?

1 Answer
George C.
Aug 6, 2018

#5(31) = 155#

Explanation:

Multiplication is both left-distributive and right-distributive over addition.

That is, for any #a#, #b# and #c# we have:

#a(b+c) = ab+ac" "# left distributive

#(a+b)c = ac+bc" "# right distributive

We can use left distributivity to make the example product easier to calculate, finding:

#5(31) = 5(30+1) = 5(30)+5(1) = 150+5 = 155#

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