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Algebra Question, Regarding the Distributive Property.

cassanova

cassanova

Sep 4, 2000
8,419
748
Florida
#1
I missed a class on Thursday and I'm pretty sure the professor went over using the distributive property.

The only example I have of what to do is this: a(b+c)= ab+ac

Then it gives a few problems telling me to use the distributive property to write the expression without parenthesis.

9(a+b) (simplify your answer)

6(4a+b) simplify your answer)

3(5a-6)

If anyone can explain this in English and layman's terms without going all mathematical lingo on me, (like my professor does) then I'd be very much appreciative.
 
#3
You distribute the number or variable outside the parenthesis to both variables or numbers inside the parenthesis.

So:

x(a) = xa
or
2(a) = 2a
or
2(2) = 4

You can have multiple numbers inside the parenthesis as well

So:

x(a+b) = xa + xb
or
2 (a+b) = 2a + 2b
or
2 (4 + 5) = 8 + 10, which then = 18!

Make sense?
 
#4
Yes it does. Thank you! I worked out the rest of the problems I had and the answers were correct. One last question on this crap. How do you do it with fractions?

ex: 3/4 (8x-6)

I know you have to make the fraction a whole number (or at least I think you do) and can't remember how.
 
#5
3/4 times 8x - 3/4 times 6. its still distributing the 3/4 to both items. i would do it out for you, but i think it best to let you try it for yourself.

yeah, my son doesn't like me saying that either! ;)
 
#6
cassanova said:
Yes it does. Thank you! I worked out the rest of the problems I had and the answers were correct. One last question on this crap. How do you do it with fractions?

ex: 3/4 (8x-6)

I know you have to make the fraction a whole number (or at least I think you do) and can't remember how.
Click to expand...

It works the same with fractions, actually. Just multiply the fraction by each term within the parentheses, for example:

3/4 (8x-6)
= 24x/4 - 18/8
= 6x - 9/4
 
#7
cassanova said:
Yes it does. Thank you! I worked out the rest of the problems I had and the answers were correct. One last question on this crap. How do you do it with fractions?

ex: 3/4 (8x-6)

I know you have to make the fraction a whole number (or at least I think you do) and can't remember how.
Click to expand...

look at it as in "what number times 4 equals 8?" when multiply that number by the top number of the fraction. Like 2 goes into 8 4 times, so you would take 2x3=6.

so your answer would be 6x-4.5.
 
#8
speaking of which, my son had a stumper in his algebra homework tonite. it has to do with using his (required) TI-84 calculator. the problem was about probability and distribution (the ramifications suggest a post in the free will thread!).

roughly, he draws a box. he randomly picks a point in the box. he uses two coin flips to "pick" a corner of the box. he finds the point two-thirds of the way between the original point and the chosen corner. he starts again from that point.

they had him do it by hand twenty times. it makes a nice little pattern of dots that appear to clump in certain areas.

but then, it says to use the calculator to run a simulation out 1,000 times and observe the pattern.

our problem is that we don't know how to get the TI-84 to do this!

anyone know how????


please?!?!?!!?
 
#9
EBodious said:
speaking of which, my son had a stumper in his algebra homework tonite. it has to do with using his (required) TI-84 calculator. the problem was about probability and distribution (the ramifications suggest a post in the free will thread!).

roughly, he draws a box. he randomly picks a point in the box. he uses two coin flips to "pick" a corner of the box. he finds the point two-thirds of the way between the original point and the chosen corner. he starts again from that point.

they had him do it by hand twenty times. it makes a nice little pattern of dots that appear to clump in certain areas.

but then, it says to use the calculator to run a simulation out 1,000 times and observe the pattern.

our problem is that we don't know how to get the TI-84 to do this!

anyone know how????


please?!?!?!!?
Click to expand...

I use a Ti-83 every day, but I have no idea how to do this. BTW, I wish that my algebra work was this easy still. Bring on Structural Theory tomorrow!

lowsound
 
#10
For the distributive property, you want to have terms in your final answer that include all of the combinations of both (or more) terms.

For example: a (b+c) = ab + ac

(a+b)(C+d) = ac + ad + bc + bd

(a+b)(c+d)(e+f) = (ac + ad + bc + bd)(e+f) = ace + acf + ade + adf + bce + bcf + bde + bdf

and so on.

You can demonstrate this to yourself with real numbers:

Let a = 3, b = 5, and c = 8

a(b+c) = ab + ac = 15 + 24 = 39, or 3*(5+8) = 3*13 = 39

Bottom line - there will be a multiplication of each term in the first grouping with each term in the second grouping, with each term in the third grouping, etc.

ian
 
#16
oldrocker said:
Just curious - what grade are you in?
Click to expand...

College senior.

I slipped through the cracks in high school and never took algebra. Then somehow I slipped through the cracks in college and got around taking algebra until now.

It's a rough term for me too. I've got 2 math classes and a human biology course.


champbassist said:
He's 40.
Click to expand...

and this.

What little I do remember from prealgebra a when I first started college has faded; so to me, it feels like I'm starting this all from scratch.
 
#17
EBodious said:
speaking of which, my son had a stumper in his algebra homework tonite. it has to do with using his (required) TI-84 calculator. the problem was about probability and distribution (the ramifications suggest a post in the free will thread!).

roughly, he draws a box. he randomly picks a point in the box. he uses two coin flips to "pick" a corner of the box. he finds the point two-thirds of the way between the original point and the chosen corner. he starts again from that point.

they had him do it by hand twenty times. it makes a nice little pattern of dots that appear to clump in certain areas.

but then, it says to use the calculator to run a simulation out 1,000 times and observe the pattern.

our problem is that we don't know how to get the TI-84 to do this!

anyone know how????


please?!?!?!!?
Click to expand...

I think there is a way to get it to do a sim using one of the very top buttons under the screen (the f buttons).

I really don't know because its been ages since I used a TI anything for statistics. There are computer programs that are way better for them.
 
#18
cassanova said:
College senior.

I slipped through the cracks in high school and never took algebra. Then somehow I slipped through the cracks in college and got around taking algebra until now.

It's a rough term for me too. I've got 2 math classes and a human biology course.




and this. What little I do remember from prealgebra a when I first started college has faded; so to me, it feels like I'm starting this all from scratch.
Click to expand...


I'm in the same boat man. Statistics and Chemistry were the only math classes I've had until now, and I'm a junior.

This semester I got slammed with Behavioral Statistics/Research Methods and pre-cal all at the same time. Yay me... not.
 
#19
EBodious said:
speaking of which, my son had a stumper in his algebra homework tonite. it has to do with using his (required) TI-84 calculator. the problem was about probability and distribution (the ramifications suggest a post in the free will thread!).

roughly, he draws a box. he randomly picks a point in the box. he uses two coin flips to "pick" a corner of the box. he finds the point two-thirds of the way between the original point and the chosen corner. he starts again from that point.

they had him do it by hand twenty times. it makes a nice little pattern of dots that appear to clump in certain areas.

but then, it says to use the calculator to run a simulation out 1,000 times and observe the pattern.

our problem is that we don't know how to get the TI-84 to do this!

anyone know how????


please?!?!?!!?
Click to expand...

I don't really understand the question that well, but I would suggest you "google" the question as precisely as possible. I am willing to bet you will find step by step instructions on how to do it.

My experience with TI calculators, my last TI calculator was an 89, is that you may need to install a program to run that. Unless it falls under the probability functions in the calculator, which I don't have any memory of having ever used.
 

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