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Algebra basics
Course: Algebra basics > Unit 2
Lesson 5: Distributive propertyDistributive property with variables
To apply the distributive property to an algebraic expression, you multiply each term inside the parentheses by the number or variable outside the parentheses. For example, to simplify 2(x + 3), you would multiply 2 by both x and 3, resulting in 2x + 6.
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- At, how does 1/2 (2a) just equal to a? Shouldn't it be 1? 1:46(45 votes)
- Basically, when you multiply 1/2 with 2a, you get 2/2a. 2/2a equals to 1a, which is equal to a(52 votes)
- This is still super difficult.(26 votes)
- true that, Still confuzzled(5 votes)
- Bruh moment, pls help, confuzled tots(9 votes)
- Yesssss! i like the rhymes but what do you need help on is what confuses me(6 votes)
- What is happening i'm so confused!(8 votes)
- yea, But like everything, you will get good.(1 vote)
- i dont get this question
6(5x -3)=(6 votes)- it's basicly 6 times 5x minus 3. i think. ignore my spelling(5 votes)
- can someone please tell me where i have to go to understand how to solve 11(6+3h)
if you can help me understand it, please help.(4 votes)- ok so
11(6+3h)
you have to distribute because its distribute property
11 times 6 = 66
11 times 3h = 33h
so the answer is 66+33h (because you cant add unlike variables)hoped that helped(8 votes)
- bruh this is so confusing for my small brain someone help plz
everyone here is here from like a year ago so idk if ill be able to get help-(5 votes) - y is he moaning its really disturbing my peacul lerning(5 votes)
- because jonathan is in da video(3 votes)
- Finally I now how to do this!(4 votes)
- My wife left me and Im now constipating my self(3 votes)
Video transcript
We're asked to apply the
distributive property. And we have 1/2 times the expression 2a-6b+8. So, to figure this out,
I've actually already copy and pasted this
problem onto my scratch pad. I have it right over here. 1/2(2a-6b+8). So, lemme just rewrite it. So, I'm gonna take, and
lemme color code it, too, just for fun, so it's going to be 1/2 times, give myself some space, 1/2(2a-6b), so, 2a-6b, minus six, lemme write it this way - 6b, and then we have plus eight. Plus, and I will do eight in this color. +8. And so, i just need to distribute the 1/2. If I multiplying 1/2 times
this entire expression, that means I multiply 1/2
times each of these terms. So, I'm gonna multiply 1/2 times this, 1/2 times this, and 1/2 times that. So, 1/2 times 2a, so this is going to be 1/2 times 2a, times, lemme do it in that same color so you see where the 2a came from. 1/2(2a) minus, minus 1/2(6b). Minus 1/2(6b). Times 6b+1/2(8). 1/2(8). And so, what's this going to be? Well, let's see, I have 1/2(2a). 1/2(2) is just one, so you're just going to be left with A. And then you have minus 1/2(6b). Well, we could just think about what 1/2(6) is going to be. 1/2(6) is going to be three, and then you still are multiplying times B. So, it's gonna be 3b. And then we have plus 1/2(8). Half of eight is four. Or as you can say, eight
halves is equal to four wholes. Alright, so this is going to be four. So, it's a-3b+4, a-3b+4. So, let's type that in. It's going to be a-3b+4. And notice, it's just literally half of each of these terms. Half of 2a is A, half of 6b is 3b, so we have minus 6b, so
it's gonna be minus 3b, and then plus eight, instead of that, half of that plus four. So, let's check our answer. And we got it right. Let's do another one of these. So, let's say, so, they say apply the
distributive property to factor out the greatest common factor. And here, we have 60m-40, so lemme get my scratch pad out again. So, I'm running out of space that way. So, we have, write it like this. We have 60, 60m-40. Minus 40. So, what is the greatest common factor of 60m and 40? Well, 10 might jump out at us. We might say, okay, look, you know? 60 is 10, so we could say
this is the same thing as 10 times six and actually, and then, of course, you have the M there, so you could do this 10 times 6m. And then you could view,
you could view this as 10 times four. But we, 10 still isn't the
greatest common factor. You'll say, well, how do you know that? Well, because four and six still share a factor in common. They still share two. So, if you're actually factoring out the greatest common factor, what's left should not share a factor with each other. So, let me think even harder about what a greatest common
factor of 60 and 40 is. Well, two times 10 is 20. So, you could actually factor out a 20. So, you have 20 and 30m. Sorry, 20 and 3m. And 40 could be factored out into 20 and, 20 and two. And now 3m and two, 3m and
two share no common factors. So, you know that you have fully factored these two things out. Now, if you think this is something kind of a strange art that I just did, one way to think about
greatest common factors, you say, okay, 60, you could literally do a prime factorization. You could say 60 is two times
30, which is two times 15, which is three times five. So, that's 60's prime factorization. Two times two times three times five. And then 40's prime factorization is two times 20, 20 is two times 10. 10 is two times five. So, that right over here, this
is 40's prime factorization. And to get out the greatest common factor, you wanna get out as many
common prime factors. So you have, here, you
have two twos and a five. Here, you have two twos and a five. You can't go to three twos and a five 'cause there aren't three
twos and a five over here. So, we have two twos and a five here. Two twos and a five here. So, two times two times
five is going to be the greatest common factor. So, two times two times
five, that's four times five. Four times five, that is 20. That's one way of kind
of very systematically figuring out a greatest common factor. But anyway, now that we know that 20 is the greatest common
factor, let's factor it out. So, this is going to be equal to 20 times, so 60m divided by 20, you're
just going to be left with 3m. Just going to be left with 3m. And then minus, minus 40 divided by 20, you're just left with the two. Minus two. Minus two, so let's type that in. So, this is going to be 20 times, 20(3m-2). And once again, we feel good that we, literally, we did take out
the greatest common factor because 3m and two,
especially three and two are now relatively prime. Relatively prime just
means they don't share any factors in common other than one.