SOLUTION: when u are doing distributive property ,once you distribute do you do the parentheses first then multiply your answer times the number out of the parentheses ,or just that number o

Question 139924: when u are doing distributive property ,once you distribute do you do the parentheses first then multiply your answer times the number out of the parentheses ,or just that number or do you multiply the number outside of the parenthese times the first number in the parentheses then the second?
thanks for your help
Answer by ptaylor(2198) (Show Source): You can put this solution on YOUR website!
OK, I'll try to help on this but I'm not sure if I fully understand your question.
a(b+c): This is read as "a times the quantity (b+c)". One of the main reasons for using parentheses in math is to reduce confusion:
For example, what is the answer to the problem 4 times by 2 plus 2? This is confusing, right? The problem could be:

or the problem could be

So the use of parens in this problem completely eliminates confusion.
If we say then: "what is the answer to the problem 4 times the quantity (2+2), then all confusion is eliminated.
Getting back to your problem:
a(b+c)=ab+ac
like you said, you multiply the number outside of the parentheses times the first number in the parentheses then the second?
Now if we have:
ab+ac
we can "factor out" the a leaving a(b+c)
Hope this helps----ptaylor

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