Which expression demonstrates the distributive property applied to the expression 4(x + y)? A) 4x + y B) 4x + 4y C) 4(y + x) Eliminate D) 4 × (y × x)

Geography · High School · Tue Nov 03 2020

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The distributive property states that multiplying a sum by a number is the same as multiplying each addend by the number and then adding the products. The expression that demonstrates the distributive property applied to the expression 4(x + y) is B) 4x + 4y.

Here's how you would apply the distributive property step by step to the expression 4(x + y):

Step 1: Identify the multiplier (which is outside the parentheses) and the terms inside the parentheses. In this expression, the multiplier is 4, and the terms inside the parentheses are x and y.

Step 2: Multiply the multiplier by each term inside the parentheses. You multiply 4 by x and 4 by y separately.

Step 3: Write down the resulting products:

Multiplying 4 by x gives you 4x. Multiplying 4 by y gives you 4y.

Step 4: Add the products together, maintaining the operations between them as they were in the original expression (which is addition in this case). So, you get:

4x + 4y

Thus, option B correctly applies the distributive property.