Multiply to find the answer.

Question

-5 (6y+8)=?

(Simplify your answer. Do not factor.)

Answer 1

To solve this equation, and it is an equation because we have an equal sign, we use what is know as the distributive property.  In other words we will "distribute" the -5 across all the numbers in parenthesis.  This makes sure every number is treated equally, no number will feel as it they have treated unfairly.   In fancy algebra terms this means: Algebraic distribution means to multiply each of the terms within the parentheses by the term outside the parentheses.

So:

-5 x 6y = -30y

-5 x 8 = -40

combine;

-30y -40=?

Now we set equal to 0 to solve for the y variable and we get:

-30y-40 = 0

solve algebraicly and we get: y= -40/30

plug this into where the y variable is and solve:

so we get (-30/1 x -40/30) -40 = 0