SSAT Middle Level Math : How to find the distributive property

Study concepts, example questions & explanations for SSAT Middle Level Math

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Example Questions

Example Question #1 : How To Find The Distributive Property

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

Using the distributive property we get:

Example Question #2 : How To Find The Distributive Property

Which of the following expressions is equivalent to the expression  ?

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

By the distributive property of multiplication over addition,

Example Question #3 : How To Find The Distributive Property

Which of the following expressions is equivalent to the expression  ?

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

By the distributive property of multiplication over addition,

 

Example Question #4 : How To Find The Distributive Property

Simplify the expression: 

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

Apply the distributive property:

Example Question #4 : How To Find The Distributive Property

Simplify the expression: 

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

Apply the distributive property:

Example Question #5 : How To Find The Distributive Property

Which of the following is an example of an application of the distributive property?

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

According to the distributive property, for any values of 

If we set , this become the statement 

,

so this is the correct choice.

 

All of the other statements are true for different reasons:

 

is true because of the associative property of multiplication.

is true because of the commutative property of multiplication.

is true because of the commutative property of addition.

is true because of the identity property of multiplication.

Example Question #3 : How To Find The Distributive Property

Simplify the expression:

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

Distribute, then collect like terms:

Example Question #2 : Distributive Property

Diana is thirty-three years older than her son Colin, who is three times as old as her niece Sharon. If  is Diana's age, how old is Sharon?

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

Colin's age is thirty-three years less than Diana's age of , so Colin is  years old; Sharon is one-third of this, or . Using distribution, this can be rewritten as

  .

Example Question #5 : How To Find The Distributive Property

Nina is twenty-one years younger than her mother Caroline, who is one-third as old as their neighbor Mr. Hutchinson. If  is Nina's age, how old is Mr. Hutchinson?

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

Caroline is twenty-one years older than Nina, so her age is . Mr. Hutchinson is three times as old as Caroline, so he is . Using distribution, this can be rewritten as 

.

Example Question #7 : How To Find The Distributive Property

Which of the following expressions is equivalent to ?

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

When distributing, the number outside the parentheses is multiplied by both of the numbers inside without changing any signs.

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