Distributive Property Homework Practice
Name: _____________________________ Date: _________
Complete the following problems. Be sure to show your work in order to receive credit.
1. Eddie bought a cool new shower curtain that had
scenes from his favorite movie on it. When he went to
put it up, he found that it was too long to fit properly
and he needed to cut off the bottom eight inches. The
original curtain was 72 inches tall and 60 inches along
the base.
6. Rita’s teacher gave her the expression 14(n + 11) and
asked her to write an equivalent expression using the
distributive property. Rita wrote 14•n + 154.
Decide whether Rita’s expression is equivalent or not.
Then explain how you know it is equivalent or not
equivalent. If you think it is not equivalent, write an
expression that is equivalent using the distributive
property.
72 inches
(height)
part of curtain removed
8 inches
60 inches
(base)
Write two equivalent expressions that could be used to
find the area of the remaining curtain. Evaluate both
expressions to prove the expressions are equivalent.
7. Dequan is working on his math homework. Question
seven asked him to write an equivalent expression using
the distributive property for the expression 7a+ah. He
wrote ah +7a.
Decide whether Dequan followed directions correctly or
not. Justify your answer.
Find the missing number(s) for problems 2 and 3.
2. 18(11+ 26) = 18 • ___ + ___ • 26
3. ___ (m – n) = qm – qn
For problems 4 and 5 find an equivalent expression
using the distributive property. You do not need to
evaluate.
4. h(k + 5)
5. 2(x) − 8(2)
Distributive Property Homework Practice
Name: _____________________________ Date: _________
Complete the following problems. Be sure to show your work in order to receive credit.
Answer Key
1. Eddie bought a cool new shower curtain that had
scenes from his favorite movie on it. When he went to
put it up, he found that it was too long to fit properly
and he needed to cut off the bottom eight inches. The
original curtain was 72 inches tall and 60 inches along
the base.
72 inches
6. Rita’s teacher gave her the expression 14(n + 11) and
asked her to write an equivalent expression using the
distributive property. Rita wrote 14•n + 154.
Decide whether Rita’s expression is equivalent or not.
Then explain how you know it is equivalent or not
equivalent. If you think it is not equivalent, write an
expression that is equivalent using the distributive
property.
Rita found an equivalent expression using the
distributive property and then simplified the
expression.
14n+14(11)=14n+154 since 11times 14 is 154.
(height)
part of curtain removed
8 inches
60 inches
(base)
Write two equivalent expressions that could be used to
find the area of the remaining curtain. Evaluate both
expressions to prove the expressions are equivalent.
This problem is slightly different than the area
problems on the practice. Instead of combining areas,
students are subtracting an area since part of the
shower curtain is being removed.
60(72 - 8)
60(72) – 60(8)
60(64)
4320 – 480
3840
3840
Find the missing number(s) for problems 2 and 3.
2. 18(11+ 26) = 18 • 11 + 18 • 26
3. q (m – n) = qm – qn
For problems 4 and 5 find an equivalent expression
using the distributive property. You do not need to
evaluate.
4. h(k + 5)
hk + 5h
5. 2(x) − 8(2)
2(x – 8)
7. Dequan is working on his math homework. Question
seven asked him to write an equivalent expression using
the distributive property for the expression 7a+ah. He
wrote ah +7a.
Decide whether Dequan followed directions correctly or
not. Justify your answer.
No he did not. Although he found an equivalent
expression he did not use the distributive property. He
used the commutative property.
Justifications for students may vary. Some students
might explain the commutative property and how to
find an equivalent expression using the distributive
property instead. Others may substitute numbers to
prove the expressions are equivalent and then explain
that rearranging the letters is the commutative
property. Some students may also draw an area model
and then refer to that when explaining the distributive
property versus the commutative property.
The important part to stress is that justification
requires you to back up what you are saying with some
sort of evidence or logical reasoning.