Real math help.
What is the Distributive Property?
Note:
The distributive property is a very deep math principle that helps make math work. It's the rule that lets you expand parentheses, and so it's really critical to understand if you want to get good at simplifying expressions. So check out the tutorial and let us know what you think!
Background Tutorials
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Write expressions that record operations with numbers and with letters standing for numbers.
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What Are Numerical and Algebraic Expressions?
An expression is just a mathematical phrase. In this tutorial, you'll learn about two popular types of expressions: numerical and algebraic expressions. A numerical expression contains numbers and operations. An algebraic expression is almost exactly the same except it also contains variables. Check out this tutorial to learn about these two popular kinds of expressions!
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Identify parts of an expression using mathematical terms (sum, term, product, factor, quotient, coefficient); view one or more parts of an expression as a single entity.
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What's a Term?
Polynomials are those expressions that have variables raised to all sorts of powers and multiplied by all types of numbers. When you work with polynomials you need to know a bit of vocabulary, and one of the words you need to feel comfortable with is 'term'. So check out this tutorial, where you'll learn exactly what a 'term' in a polynomial is all about.
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Evaluate expressions at specific values of their variables. Include expressions that arise from formulas used in real-world problems. Perform arithmetic operations, including those involving whole-number exponents, in the conventional order when there are no parentheses to specify a particular order (Order of Operations).
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What's the Order of Operations?
Check out this tutorial where you'll see exactly what order you need to follow when you simplify expressions. You'll also see what happens when you don't follow these rules, and you'll find out why order of operations is so important!
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Understand that polynomials form a system analogous to the integers, namely, they are closed under the operations of addition, subtraction, and multiplication; add, subtract, and multiply polynomials.
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How Do You Multiply Monomials?
Multiplying monomials? Group constants and like variables together before you multiply. See how to find the product of three monomials in this tutorial.
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What is a Polynomial?
If you learn about algebra, then you'll see polynomials everywhere! In this tutorial, you'll learn the definition of a polynomial and see some of the common names for certain polynomials.
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Further Exploration
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Apply the properties of operations to generate equivalent expressions.
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How Do You Use the Distributive Property to Simplify an Expression?
In this tutorial you'll see how to apply the distributive property. Remember that this is important when you are trying to simplify an expression and get rid of parentheses!
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