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Distributive Property of Multiplication

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Distributive Property of Multiplication
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Basics on the topic Distributive Property of Multiplication

Distributive Property

What is the distributive property of multiplication? The distributive property of multiplication is when you break down one factor into smaller parts, to multiply the broken down parts by the other whole factor, and then adding them together to get the product of the original factor pair. This is the distributive property definition math. Below is a quick example of distributive property.

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Now you have the answer to ‘what is the distributive property in math’, why is it useful? It is useful because it can help break down more challenging multiplication problems into smaller ones.

Distributive Property – Examples

Let’s have a go at distributive property math! Below, we have the factor pair four and six.

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First, we will break down the six into three and three.

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Then, we will distribute the four to be threes, to make four times three and four times three.

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Next, we find the product of both smaller factor pairs. Since they are both four times three, the product for both is twelve, so write the solution.

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Finally, add the two products together. Twelve plus twelve gives a sum of twenty-four. The product of four times six is twenty-four!

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Distributive Property Multiplication – Summary

To use the distributive property of multiplication, remember these steps:

Step # What to do
1 Break down one of the factor pairs
2 Distribute the whole factor to the
broken down factor pairs
3 Multiply both smaller factor pairs
4 Add the product of both to find the
product of the original factor pair

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After watching the video, you will find more interactive exercises for practice of distributive property and a distributive property of multiplication worksheet.

Transcript Distributive Property of Multiplication

Big 'Arry seems upset, it looks like Sheriff Squeaks is needed! "Big 'Arry! What seems to be the problem?" "Help! I don't know how many squares I have in all, but apparently, the Lil 'Arry's can help!" Let's help Sheriff Squeaks calculate how much Big 'Arry has in all by using the distributive property of multiplication. Distribute simply means to give out, so the distributive property of multiplication teaches us that breaking down one factor, or number, into smaller parts to multiply them separately by the other factor, and adding the products together gives the same product as multiplying the two factors together. The distributive property of multiplication is very useful, because you can break down bigger multiplication problems into smaller ones! Let's practice with four times six. We can set up an array to model this problem. Break down one of the factors into smaller numbers that add up to the factor. For this problem, we will break down the six into three plus three. Next, distribute, or give out, the factor outside the parenthesis to each number inside the parentheses which is four times three for both. We can make two arrays with four rows of three to help. Now, find the products of the two smaller factor pairs. Four times three gives a product of twelve. We can check the answer by counting the arrays. Finally, add together the products. This means we will find the sum of twelve plus twelve... which is twenty-four. Let's check the answer by finding the product of the original problem! The product of the original problem is twenty-four, so the answer is correct! Now we have looked at the distributive property of multiplication and how it works, let's help Sheriff Squeaks calculate how many squares Big 'Arry has in all! Big 'Arry is seven rows by five, so set up an array with seven rows of five! What is the next step? Break down one of the factors! Since multiples of fives are easier than multiples of seven, let's break down the seven. How can we break down the seven? We can break the seven into four plus three. What is the next step? Distribute the outside factor, five, to the two numbers inside the parentheses. What should we do next? Find the product of both! Four times five equals twenty, and three times five equals fifteen! Check your work by counting the arrays. What is the next step? Add both products together! Twenty plus fifteen equals thirty-five. What is the final step? Check your answer by finding the product of the original equation. Seven times five is thirty-five, so the answer is correct! While Sheriff Squeaks informs Big 'Arry how many squares he has in all, let's review! Remember, to use the distributive property of multiplication, first identify a factor to break down into smaller parts. Next, distribute the other factor to the smaller factors, and solve. Then, add together the two products to get the final product. Finally, check your answer by finding the product of the original problem! "So Big 'Arry, you basically have as many squares as the Lil 'Arry's have put together!" "Woah, what's going on here!" "Imani, you will never believe what I just saw in that virtual reality world!"

Distributive Property of Multiplication exercise

Would you like to apply the knowledge you’ve learned? You can review and practice it with the tasks for the video Distributive Property of Multiplication.
  • How can we find Big 'Arry's area?

    Hints

    There are two correct answers.

    Break down one of the original factors into two smaller factors and multiply both of these by the other original factor. Here, 7 has been broken into 2 and 5, then both multiplied by 5.

    Solve both of the calculations within the brackets, do both products total the original caculation of 7 x 5?

    Solution

    The original array was 7 x 5.

    • Break down the bigger factor (7) into two parts.
    • Then multiply both of these by 5.
    • We could break down 7 into 2 and 5: (2 x 5) + (5 x 5). 10 + 25 = 35.
    • We could break down 7 into 3 and 4: (4 x 5) + (3 x 5). 20 + 15 = 35.

  • Use the distributive property of multiplication.

    Hints

    To find the factors that 6 can be broken into, think about what 6 is made up of.

    Once you know that 6 is broken into 4 and 2, what are the next steps?

    Solution

    This array has been made with 6 squares across and 5 squares down.

    Instead of solving 6 x 5 we can break down the factor, 6, into 4 + 2.

    Then we solve: 4 x 5 = 20 and 2 x 5 = 10.

    Finally we can add together the two products, 20 and 10 to get the total of 30.

    We can check this by solving 6 x 5 which also equals 30.

  • Find the equations that match each array's area.

    Hints

    This array is 8 x 4. Can the 8 be broken down into two other factors?

    In this array, 8 x 4 could be broken down into (5 x 4) + (3 x 4).

    Solution

    Array measuring 7 x 3.

    • 7 can be broken into 5 and 2.
    • (5 x 3) + (2 x 3) = 21.
    • This is the same as 7 x 3 = 21.

    Array measuring 9 x 4.

    • 9 can be broken into 5 and 4.
    • (5 x 4) + (4 x 4) = 36.
    • This is the same as 9 x 4 = 36.

    Array measuring 8 x 5.

    • 8 can be broken into 5 and 3.
    • (5 x 5) + (3 x 5) = 40.
    • This is the same as 8 x 5 = 40.

    Array measuring 9 x 5.

    • 9 can be broken into 6 and 3.
    • (6 x 5) + (3 x 5) = 45.
    • This is the same as 9 x 5 = 45.

  • Breaking down factors.

    Hints

    When there are two factors multiplied together, look at the larger factor. Can you see another equation where this factor has been split into two smaller factors?

    An example of a larger factor being broken into two smaller factors would be: 15 x 7. 15 can be split into 10 + 5 to become (10 x 7) + (5 x 7).

    Solution
    • (3 x 5) + (5 x 5) = 8 x 5. Both equations = 40
    • (6 x 6) + (3 x 6) = 9 x 6. Both equations = 54
    • (10 x 7) + (2 x 7) = 12 x 7. Both equations = 84
    • (6 x 4) + (6 x 4) = 12 x 4. Both equations = 48
  • Finding the array to match the equation.

    Hints

    What two factors can 7 be split into? Both of these are then multiplied by 3.

    Solve the separate multiplication equations (5 x 3) + (2 x 3) then combine these products to find the total. This is how many squares are in the array.

    7 x 3 = 21. Can you see an array with 21 squares?

    Solution
    • This image shows how the array 7 x 3 can be broken into two parts to make the multiplication simpler.
    • An array of 7 x 3 is the same as an array of 2 x 3 and 5 x 3.
    • (2 x 3) = 6 and (5 x 3) = 15.
    • 6 + 15 = 21.
    • 7 x 3 = 21.
  • Finding factors.

    Hints

    First find the equations where two factors multiply together to make the product.

    Where an equation has been broken down into two parts, multiply the equations within the brackets, then add these products together.

    Solution

    36

    • (3 x 4) + (6 x 4)
    • (2 x 6) + (4 x 6)
    • (9 x 3) + (3 x 3)
    • 9 x 4

    42

    • (5 x 6) + (2 x 6)
    • (8 x 3) + (6 x 3)
    • 7 x 6

    25

    • (2 x 5) + (3 x 5)
    • 5 x 5