Combining like terms with distribution

The Combining like terms with distribution exercise appears under the 6th grade (U.S.) Math Mission. This exercise practices collecting like terms and the distributive property.

Types of Problems

There is one type of problem in this exercise:

1. Simplify the expression: This problem provides an expression with variables and parentheses. The user is expected to utilize the distributive property, simplify the expression, and write the final answer in the space.

   

   Simplify the expression

Strategies

Knowledge of the distributive property and confidence with variables are encouraged to ensure success on this exercise.

1. Users may need to prefer distribution once or twice on these problems.
2. The distributive property states that ${a(b+c)=ab+ac}$ or ${\frac{b+c}{a}=\frac{b}{a}+\frac{c}{a}}$.

Real-life Applications

1. Distribution is a proof justification in beginning algebraic proofs.
2. The distributive property, especially by factoring, is common in all mathematics from algebra and beyond.