How do you use the distributive property to simplify #3k(-xy+-5)#?

1 Answer
Aug 10, 2015

#3k(-xy +- 5) = -3kxy +- 15k#

Explanation:

The distributive property (of multiplication over addition or subtraction) says:
#color(white)("XXXX")##a(b+-c) = ab+-ac#

For the given expression: #3k(-xy+-5)#
#a=3k##color(white)("XXXX")##b=(-xy)##color(white)("XXXX")##c=5#

So
#color(white)("XXXX")##3k(-xy +- 5) = -3kxy +- 15k#