WOLFRAM|DEMONSTRATIONS PROJECT

The Distributive Property

​
x
1
y
4
z
-2
1
× (
4
-
2
)
1
× (
4
)
+
1
× (
-2
)
=
=
1
× (
2
)
4
-
2
=
=
2
2
This Demonstration illustrates the distributive property. On the left, operations are performed in the usual order—parentheses first, then multiplication. On the right, the factor outside the parentheses is distributed through them first.