Not sure where to start? These are the lessons and games we recommend most to students, parents and teachers on Basic-mathematics.com. Each lesson explains the topic in plain language, walks you through worked examples step by step, and ends with practice so you can check your understanding. Pick one below, or use the menu to find lessons on fractions, algebra, geometry, statistics and more.
Learn to solve equations using the distributive property with the following three good examples.
Example #1
Solve 2(x - 4) = 10 using the distributive property
2(x - 4) = 10
Use the distributive property
2x - 8 = 10
Isolate x by adding 8 to both sides of the equation
2x - 8 = 10
2x - 8 + 8 = 10 + 8
2x = 18
Divide each side by 2
2x/2 = 18/2
x = 9
Example #2
Solve 6(x - 2) = 2(9 - 2x) using the distributive property
6(x - 2) = 2(9 - 2x)
Use the distributive property
6x - 12 = 18 - 4x
Isolate x by adding 12 to both sides of the equations and by adding 4x to both sides of the equations.
6x + 4x - 12 + 12 = 18 + 12 - 4x + 4x
6x + 4x = 18 + 12
Simplify
10x = 30
Divide both sides by 10
10x/10 = 30/10
x = 3
Example #3
Solve -2x + 4(x + 3) = 2(-3x + -6) using the distributive property
-2x + 4(x + 3) = 2(-3x + -6)
Use the distributive property
-2x + 4x + 12 = -6x + -12
Isolate x by subtracting 12 from each side of the equation and by adding 6x to both sides of the equation
-2x + 4x + 12 - 12 + 6x = -6x + 6x + -12 - 12
-2x + 4x + 6x = -12 - 12
Simplify
8x = -24
Divide both sides by 8
8x/8 = -24/8
x = -3