xz + 2x = (z+2)x The distributive principle (used in reverse). Usually the distributive principle is written x(z + 2) = xz + 2z where we say The x multiplier in front of the parentheses distributes as a multiplier to the z giving xz, then it also distributes as a multiplier to the 2 giving 2z. But x(z+2) can also be written as (z+2)x by the commutative principle, and the right and left sides of the equation can be reversed and we get: xz + 2x = (z + 2)x Edwin