LESSON
Page 1 of 7
2.2
The Distributive Property
Now
BEFORE
Vocabulary
equivalent numerical
expressions, p. 71
equivalent variable
expressions, p. 72
You used properties to
add and multiply.
WHY?
You’ll use the distributive
property.
So you can find the snowfall in
Utah Olympic Park, as in Ex. 37.
Camping You and a friend are going on a camping trip. You each buy a
backpack that costs $90 and a sleeping bag that costs $60. What is the
total cost of the camping equipment?
Example 1
Evaluating Numerical Expressions
You can use two methods to find the total cost of the camping
equipment described above.
Method 1 Find the cost of one backpack and one sleeping bag. Then
multiply the result by 2, the number of each item bought.
Total cost 2(90 60)
2(150)
300
Method 2 Find the cost of two backpacks
and the cost of two sleeping bags. Then
add the costs.
Total cost 2(90) 2(60)
180 120
300
Answer The total cost of the camping equipment is $300.
In Example 1, the expressions 2(90 60) and 2(90) 2(60) are called
equivalent numerical expressions because they have the same value.
The statement 2(90 60) 2(90) 2(60) illustrates the distributive
property for evaluating the product of a number and a sum or difference.
Reading Algebra
Vocabulary When you
use the distributive property,
you distribute the number
outside the parentheses
to each number inside the
parentheses:
a(b c) ab ac
The Distributive Property
Algebra a(b c) ab ac
Numbers 4(6 3) 4(6) 4(3)
(b c)a ba ca
(6 3)4 6(4) 3(4)
a(b c) ab ac
5(7 2) 5(7) 5(2)
(b c)a ba ca
(7 2)5 7(5) 2(5)
Lesson 2.2
The Distributive Property
71
Page 2 of 7
Example 2
Using the Distributive Property
Geodes After touring a cave, you visit the gift
shop and buy 3 geodes. Each geode costs $5.95.
Use the distributive property and mental math
to find the total cost of the geodes.
Solution
Total cost 3(5.95)
Write expression for total cost.
3(6 0.05)
Rewrite 5.95 as 6 0.05.
3(6) 3(0.05)
Distributive property
18 0.15
Multiply using mental math.
17.85
Subtract using mental math.
Answer The total cost of the geodes is $17.85.
In the
Real World
Geodes A geode is a hollow
rock whose interior is lined
with crystals. Many geodes
are small enough to fit in your
hand, but a giant geode in
Spain is 26 feet long and can
hold 10 people inside. How
does this geode’s length
compare with the length of
your hand?
Checkpoint
Use the distributive property to evaluate the expression.
1. 3(8 5)
2. (2 9)2
3. 6(11 4)
4. (3 14)(5)
Evaluate the expression using the distributive property and mental math.
5. 4(105)
6. 3(97)
7. 5(2.9)
8. 8(7.02)
Two variable expressions that have the same value for all values of the
variable(s) are called equivalent variable expressions . You can use the
distributive property to write equivalent variable expressions.
Example 3
Writing Equivalent Variable Expressions
Use the distributive property to write an equivalent variable
expression.
a. 3(x 7) 3(x) 3(7)
3x 21
Distributive property
b. (n 4)(2) n(2) 4(2)
2n (8)
2n 8
Distributive property
c. 5(2y 3) 5(2y) (5)(3)
10y (15)
10y 15
Distributive property
Multiply.
Multiply.
Definition of subtraction
Multiply.
Definition of subtraction
Checkpoint
Use the distributive property to write an equivalent variable expression.
9. 8(x 2)
72
Chapter 2
Solving Equations
10. (7 t)(4)
11. 9(3m 5)
12. 2(6y 4)
Page 3 of 7
Example 4
Finding Areas of Geometric Figures
Find the area of the rectangle or triangle.
a.
b.
Review Help
8 3y
7
2x 5
For help with basic geometric
figures, see p. 785.
12
Solution
a. Use the formula for the
area of a rectangle.
A lw
(2x 5)(7)
2x(7) 5(7)
14x 35
b. Use the formula for the area
of a triangle.
1
2
6(8 3y)
6(8) 6(3y)
48 18y
Answer The area is
(14x 35) square units.
2.2
1
2
A bh (12)(8 3y)
Answer The area is
(48 18y) square units.
Exercises
INTERNET
More Practice, p. 804
CLASSZONE.COM
eWorkbook Plus
Guided Practice
Vocabulary Check
1. What property is illustrated by the statement 3(4 9) 3(4) 3(9)?
2. Are 2(x 1) and 2x 1 equivalent variable expressions? Explain.
Skill Check
Evaluate the expression using the distributive property and mental math.
3. 3(96)
4. 6(103)
5. 2(8.95)
6. 4(7.09)
Use the distributive property to write an equivalent variable expression.
7. 2(x 6)
8. (y 11)(3)
9. 5(4k 9)
10. 4(2n 7)
11. Game Room You are building a game room
adjacent to your living room. The widths of
the two rooms must be the same. There are
no restrictions on the game room’s length l.
15 ft
Living
room
Game
room
20 ft
l
a. Write an expression for the total area of both rooms by multiplying
their common width by their combined length.
b. Write a second expression for the total area by finding the area of
each room separately and then adding the two areas.
c. Show that the expressions from parts (a) and (b) are equivalent.
Lesson 2.2
The Distributive Property
73
Page 4 of 7
Practice and Problem Solving
Homework Help
Example Exercises
1
12–19, 36,
41–43
2
20–27, 37
3
28–35, 44, 45
4
38–40
Online Resources
CLASSZONE.COM
• More Examples
• eTutorial Plus
Use the distributive property to evaluate the expression.
12. 2(5 3)
13. 5(9 3)
14. (4 10)7
15. (7.2 1.9)2
16. 10(18 8)
17. (6 21)(3)
18. (12 7)(4)
19. 6(2.3 3.8)
Evaluate the expression using the distributive property and mental math.
20. 4(98)
21. 7(109)
22. (211)(3)
23. 5(396)
24. 8(3.1)
25. 2(1.99)
26. 6(10.95)
27. (4.02)(9)
Use the distributive property to write an equivalent variable expression.
28. 4(x 2)
29. 3(y 9)
30. 2(3 r)
31. (s 20)(7)
32. 6(2p 1)
33. 5(5q 4)
34. 9(11 6m)
35. (2n 3)(8)
36. Basketball There are 29 teams in the National Basketball Association
(NBA). Each team can have a maximum of 12 healthy players plus
3 players on injured reserve. Use the distributive property to find the
maximum number of players who can be in the NBA.
37. Snowfall Utah Olympic Park, site of the 2002 Olympic Winter Games,
gets an average of 295 inches of snow each year. Use estimation to
predict the total snowfall in Utah Olympic Park over a 5 year period.
Justify your answer using the distributive property and mental math.
Geometry Find the area of the rectangle or triangle.
38.
39.
5a 7
40.
13
4
6 2y
18
3x 2
Use the distributive property to evaluate the expression.
Study Strategy
In Exercises 41–44, you can
use an extended version of
the distributive property. For
example, an expression of
the form
a(b c d)
can be written as
ab ac ad.
41. 5(7 2 4)
42. 3(9 1 6)
43. (21 11 3)4
44. Giant Pumpkins A giant pumpkin can be difficult to weigh directly on
a scale. To estimate the weight, you can first measure the distances a,
b, and c (in inches) as shown below. The weight W (in pounds) can
then be approximated using the formula W 1.9(a b c).
a
b
c
a. Use the distributive property to write the given formula without
parentheses.
b. For a certain pumpkin, a 132 inches, b 91 inches, and
c 85 inches. Approximate the weight of the pumpkin to the
nearest pound.
74
Chapter 2
Solving Equations
Page 5 of 7
45. Extended Problem Solving For a cylindrical
corn silo with the dimensions shown, the weight
W (in pounds) of the corn silage inside is
typically given by W 4400(40 d), where d is
the distance (in feet) from the top of the corn to
the top of the silo.
d
40 ft
a. Use the distributive property to write the
given formula without parentheses.
Corn
b. Calculate Suppose d 15 feet. What is the
weight of the corn in the silo?
20 ft
c. Interpret and Apply How many days will the amount of corn from
part (b) last if it is used to feed a herd of 100 cows and each cow eats
10 pounds of corn a day?
Use the distributive property to write an equivalent variable expression.
46. x(x 9)
47. m(5 m)
48. (2u 7)u
49. 3y(y 8)
50. Challenge Llamas are often raised as pets or to carry supplies in
mountainous areas. Suppose you are building a rectangular pen for a
herd of llamas. You use 500 feet of fencing for the pen. Let x represent
the pen’s length (in feet).
a.
Writing
Write an expression for the width of the pen. Explain the
steps you used to find the expression.
b. Use the distributive property to write an expression without
parentheses for the area of the pen.
c. Find the width and the area of the pen if the length is 160 feet.
Mixed Review
Find the sum or difference. (Lessons 1.5, 1.6)
51. 20 (9)
52. 34 16
53. 81 58
54. 65 (27)
55. Temperature Find the mean of the following temperatures: 15F,
7F, 8F, 3F, 9F. (Lesson 1.7)
Identify the property that the statement illustrates. (Lesson 2.1)
56. (x 5y) 2 x (5y 2)
2
58. r s sr
Standardized Test
Practice
2
57. 3m 2n 2n 3m
59. c 7 p 1 c 7
60. Multiple Choice Which expression is equivalent to 3(7 2x)?
A. 21 6x
B. 21 2x
C. 21 6x
D. 21 6x
61. Multiple Choice What is the area (in
square units) of the rectangle shown?
F. 4y 13
H. 20y 8
G. 8y 26
5
4y 8
I. 20y 40
62. Short Response You and a friend go to the movies. You each buy a
ticket for $9.00 and a popcorn-and-drink combo for $5.25. Describe
two methods you can use to find the total amount of money you and
your friend spend. What is the total amount spent?
Lesson 2.2
The Distributive Property
75
Page 6 of 7
Rates and Unit Analysis
Review these
topics in preparation
for solving problems
that involve rates
and unit analysis in
Lesson 2.3. You will
learn more about
these topics
in Lesson 6.1.
Writing Unit Rates
A rate is a comparison, using division, of quantities measured in different
units. Rates are often expressed as fractions. A unit rate has a denominator
of 1 unit when the rate is written as a fraction. When a unit rate is expressed
as a verbal phrase, it often contains the word per, which means “for every.”
Example
Unit rate as a phrase
Unit rate as a fraction
a. 45 miles per hour
45 mi
1h
b. $3 per square foot
$3
2
1 ft
Rates and Unit Analysis
You can include unit analysis in a calculation so that you know the units in
the answer.
Example At a grocery store, the price of bananas is $1.19 per pound.
What is the cost of 3 pounds of bananas?
Total cost Price per pound Number of pounds
$1.19
1 lb
3 lb
Substitute. Divide out common unit.
$3.57
Multiply.
Answer The cost of the bananas is $3.57.
Rates and Variable Expressions
You can use a rate to write a variable expression.
Example You fill a pool with water at a rate of 20 gallons per minute.
Write an expression for the volume of water in the pool after t minutes.
Volume Gallons per minute Number of minutes
20t
Answer The volume of water in the pool is 20t gallons.
76
Chapter 2
1
Chapter Equations
Solving
Title
Page 7 of 7
Using a Formula
Many rate problems involve units of distance and time. The formula below
relates distance traveled to the rate of travel and the travel time.
Distance Rate Time
d rt
In problems about distance, rate, and time, the word speed means the same
thing as rate.
Example An ocean liner travels at a constant speed of 36 miles per hour.
How far does the ocean liner travel in 4.5 hours?
d rt
36 mi
1h
Write formula for distance traveled.
4.5 h
Substitute. Divide out common unit.
162 mi
Multiply.
Answer The ocean liner travels 162 miles.
Checkpoint
Test your
knowledge of rates
and unit analysis
by solving these
problems.
Write the rate as a fraction.
1. 17 meters per second
2. $360 per ounce
3. 1.5 inches per hour
4. 0.75 pound per square foot
5. Cows A milk cow grazing in a field eats about 30 pounds of grass per day.
How many pounds does the cow eat in 5 days?
6. Snails A snail travels at a speed of about
23 inches per hour. How far can a snail travel
in 4 hours?
7. Carpeting You want to carpet a rectangular bedroom that is 5 yards long
and 4 yards wide. You buy the carpet for $11.50 per square yard. What is
the total cost of the carpet?
8. Space Probe In 1989, the space probe Magellan was launched. It
traveled toward the planet Venus at a speed of about 25,000 miles
per hour. How far did Magellan travel in one day?
9. Nutrition A certain brand of salsa contains 15 Calories per ounce.
Write an expression for the number of calories in x ounces.
10. Skiing You ski down a hill at a speed of 70 feet per second. Write an
expression for the distance you travel in t seconds.
Student Reference
Rates and Unit Analysis
77