document.write( "<A HREF=/cgi-bin/jump-to-question.mpl?question=163424>Question 163424</A>This question is from textbook <A HREF=http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0131313983/algebrahomeworkh>Pre-Algebra</A><BR>\n" );
document.write( ": <I><SPAN STYLE=\"word-break: break-all;\"> I am trying to understand the distributive property III.  When I do the problem, I add all the numbers together to get one number.  My mom says that is wrong and I don't understand why.  Two problems I'd like help are:<BR>\n" );
document.write( "-7(-3n + 2) my answer is 7n\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "7(2m + t) my answer is 21\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "Please help.  Thank you for your time. </SPAN>\n" );
document.write( "</I><HR><TABLE width=100%><TR><TD><B><A HREF=http://www.algebra.com/>Algebra.Com's</A> Answer #120394 by </B><A HREF=/tutors/aboutme.mpl?userid=Earlsdon><B>Earlsdon(6294)</B></A><img src=\"/images/stars/stars-13.gif\" alt=\"\" >&nbsp;<A HREF=/tutors/aboutme.mpl?userid=Earlsdon><IMG SRC=http://www.algebra.com/images/aboutme-small.gif BORDER=0 alt=\"About Me\" VALIGN=MIDDLE></A>&nbsp;<IMG SRC=http://www.algebra.com/images/nopicture.jpg><BR>You can <A HREF=\"/cgi-bin/embed-solution.mpl?show=1&solution=120394\">put this solution on YOUR website!</A><BR><SPAN STYLE=\"word-break: break-all;\"> Listen to your mum!<BR>\n" );
document.write( "<IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=-7%2A%28-3n%2B2%29 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"-7%2A%28-3n%2B2%29\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" > Apply the distributive property.<BR>\n" );
document.write( "<IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=-7%2A%28-3n%29%2B%28-7%29%282%29 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"-7%2A%28-3n%29%2B%28-7%29%282%29\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" > Simplify.<BR>\n" );
document.write( "<IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=21%2An%2B%28-14%29 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"21%2An%2B%28-14%29\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" > and this is becomes:<BR>\n" );
document.write( "<IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=21%2An-14 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"21%2An-14\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" > Note! You cannot subtract the 14 from the 21n because they are different things. The 14 is a \"constant\" term while the 21n is a \"variable\" term. You cannot subtract these until you know what the value of the variable n is equal to. Trying to add/subtract these is probably one of the most-often committed errors in doing distributive property problems.<BR>\n" );
document.write( "<IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=7%2A%282%2Am%2Bt%29 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"7%2A%282%2Am%2Bt%29\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" > Apply the distributive property.<BR>\n" );
document.write( "<IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=7%2A%282%2Am%29%2B7%28t%29 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"7%2A%282%2Am%29%2B7%28t%29\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" > Simplify.<BR>\n" );
document.write( "<IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=highlight%2814%2Am%2B7%2At%29 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"highlight%2814%2Am%2B7%2At%29\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" > You cannot add the 14m to the 7t because, while they are both \"variable\" terms, the variables are not the same.  It's sort of like trying to add apples and oranges, it just can't be done! </SPAN>\n" );
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