How do I use the distributive property to change the problems 3x - 12 and 4x(x being squared) + 24x

Question

I need to know how to use the distributive property to solve 3x - 12 and 4x(x is squared) + 24x

Answer 1

It's not clear what you're asking for, I hope this answers your question.

 

The distributive property (of multiplication over addition) is:

a(b+c) = ab + ac

 

In words: if you're multiplying a sum (b+c) by something (a), then you multiply each term (b, c) of the sum by that thing.

 

It looks like you're being asked to do this in reverse.

3x - 12

If you factor each term, you can see what both terms have in common, and you can un-distribute it

=3*x - 3*4   --both terms have a 3

=3(x-4)        --if you take the 3 out of the first term, you're left with just x. if you take a 3 from the second term, you're left with 4

 

4x²+24x

=4*x*x + 4*6*x  --both terms have a 4 and an x

=4x(x+6)            --after taking the 4 and x from each term, you're left with an x and a 6

 

To check, you can multiply them back together.