Expand expressions and visualize the process of distributive multiplication.
Identity Terms
Step Visualization
5(x + 3)
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5 × x5 × 3
Expanded Expression
5x + 15
Full Expansion
Part 1 (ab)5x
Part 2 (ac)15
StatusFully Distributed
By "spreading" the factor 5 to both x and 3, we simplify the expression and remove the parentheses.
About this calculator
What is Distributive Property?
The distributive property is an algebraic property which is used to multiply a single term and two or more terms inside a set of parentheses. It states that multiplying the sum of two or more addends by a number will give the same result as multiplying each addend individually by the number and then adding the products together.
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Pro Tips
Distributive property works for subtraction too: a(b - c) = ab - ac.
You can distribute over any number of terms: a(b + c + d) = ab + ac + ad.
It is the direct 'reversal' of factoring out a common term.
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Fun Facts
"The distributive law is one of the foundational axioms of field theory and arithmetic."
"Mental math experts use this to multiply 7 × 12 by doing (7 × 10) + (7 × 2)."
"This property allows us to perform 'FOIL' (First, Outer, Inner, Last) when multiplying two binomials."
