Distributivity of multiplication over addition
To understand this, consider the rational numbers
Check the distributivity of multiplication over addition for
- Evaluating:
− 3 4 × , first add the numbers in the bracket. The value of the addition is2 3 + − 5 6 by taking the LCM i.e. . - Now multiply both the numbers. We get the result:
which can be simplified to - This same value can be achieved if we multiply
to all the terms within the bracket. Let's verify it.− 3 4 - Evaluating
− 3 4 × we get:2 3 (Enter simplified number) - Now evaluating
− 3 4 × we get:− 5 6 (Enter simplified number) - Now adding both the number.
- We get the value:
- We have found that both the values are equal.
- Thus, we have proved the following result.
Distributivity of Multiplication over Addition and Subtraction
For all rational numbers a, b and c,
a (b + c) = a b
a (b – c) = a b
Find using distributivity:
(i)
(ii)
Example 3: Evaluate the expression:
- We can adjust the terms using
property. - We can also re-write the expression by replacing the subtraction sign with addition.
- We can now take the common number
from the first two brackets and keeping the remaining terms in a bracket. - The value within the bracket is
. - Solving we get:
which on further simplification becomes . - Hence, we found the answer.