How Do You Solve a Multi-Step Equation Using the Distributive Property?

1. Multiply the 3 by what is inside the parentheses
1. 3 • 23 = ?
2. 3 • -2b = ?
1. 'b' is a variable
2. 3 • 23 = 69
3. 3 • -2b = -6b
1. Add together like terms
1. 'b' is a variable
2. Simplify by adding like terms
3. -6b + 3b = ?
1. 'b' is a variable
2. Simplify by adding like terms
3. -6b + 3b = -3b
1. 'b' is a variable
2. 'Solve for b' just means that we have to get 'b' by itself and on one side
3. To solve for b:
4. Subtract 69 from both sides
5. Then divide both sides by -3
1. Subtraction is the opposite of addition
1. 'b' is a variable
2. The 69's on the left cancel out leaving just -3b
3. 48 minus 69 is equal to -21
1. Division is the opposite of multiplication
1. 'b' is a variable
2. The -3's cancel out on the left, leaving just 'b'
3. And on the right, -21 divided by -3 leaves positive 7 as our answer
1. 'b' is a variable
1. 'b' is a variable
2. Plug 7 in for 'b' in the original equation, and find out if the result is a true statement
1. 'b' is a variable
2. Anywhere you see a 'b' in the original equation, put a 7 instead
1. Simplify the equation by multiplying 2•7 and 3•7
1. Outside the parentheses, 3 times 7 equals 21
2. Inside the parentheses, -2 times 7 equals -14
1. We must do what is inside the parentheses first
1. Next, we do the multiplication of 3 and 9
2. Last, we add the result of that, 27, to 21
1. 'b' is a variable
2. We plugged in our answer of b=7 into the original question, and the equation became a true statement

Solve 3•(23 - 2b) + 3b = 48 for b