Question 40784
Solve:
{{{2(x-2) = x+3}}} Correctly apply the distributive property to the left side.
{{{2x-4 = x+3}}} Subtract x from both sides of the equation.
{{{x-4 = 3}}} Add 4 to both sides.
{{{x = 7}}}

A common mistake made by students in applying the distributive property to binomials is the failure to multiply the outside factor by both terms of the binomial.
How to avoid this mistake? Remember to multiply every term inside the parentheses by the outside factor!