Understanding the Distributive Property with (6m - 7) ⋅ 4
The distributive property is a fundamental concept in algebra that allows us to simplify expressions involving multiplication. It states that multiplying a sum by a number is the same as multiplying each addend by the number and then adding the products.
The Distributive Property:
- a ⋅ (b + c) = (a ⋅ b) + (a ⋅ c)
Applying the Property to (6m - 7) ⋅ 4
To apply the distributive property to (6m - 7) ⋅ 4, we can think of it as:
- 4 ⋅ (6m - 7)
Following the distributive property, we multiply 4 by each term inside the parentheses:
- (4 ⋅ 6m) + (4 ⋅ -7)
Simplifying the Expression:
Now, we simplify the expression by performing the multiplications:
- 24m - 28
Conclusion:
Therefore, using the distributive property, we have successfully simplified the expression (6m - 7) ⋅ 4 to 24m - 28. This demonstrates how the distributive property is a useful tool for simplifying and solving algebraic expressions.