How do you use the distributive property to multiply #6(3r+4s)#?

1 Answer
Marco · Becca M.
Nov 17, 2014

#18r + 24s# would be your final answer.

I did this by first multiplying #6*3#, as 3 was the first number within the bracket. Next I just added the "r" to the end of the answer.

After that, I multiplied #6*4# in the same way, because 4 is the second number within the parentheses.

Finally add the "s" to the end of the product. And voila, you have the simplified version of #6(3r + 4s)#.

Remember that the distributive property means that you are distributing the 6 outside of the parentheses to everything within it, hence the name of the property.

For another example, #3(4y + 5x)#. The 3 is being distributed to the 4y and the 5x. This being said, the answer would be #12y + 15x#.

I hope this helps, and good luck!

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