SOLUTION: SHOW ME HOW TO WORK THIS PROBLEM: 5(x+3)= ?

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Question 210108: SHOW ME HOW TO WORK THIS PROBLEM: 5(x+3)= ?
Answer by jim_thompson5910(35256) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
5%28x%2B3%29=5x%2B5%283%29=5x%2B15


So 5%28x%2B3%29=5x%2B15


This is the distributive property at work.


Why does this property work? Here's an easier example:

The expression 3%28x%2By%29 is the same as %28x%2By%29%2B%28x%2By%29%2B%28x%2By%29. In other words, there are 3 groups of 'x+y' being added together (that's basically what multiplication means).

So

To save us the trouble of repeated adding, we simply multiply. For example, you could add up the terms of 10%28x%2By%29, but this gets tedious after a while.