Categories
Distributive Property Expressions Expressions & Equations

Distributive Property, Again!

photo (6)

 

What task or problem would you have this student attempt? Or would you follow this up with an explanation?

Thanks to John Weisenfeld for the submission!

2 replies on “Distributive Property, Again!”

I would ask how many of the items in parentheses there are. Put a “1” in front. Then distribute the -1, if you insist.

How about a “Hands on Equations ” approach:
mmmmmm – (mm + 5) – mmmm
Start the set up: Put out 6 -m’s
you need to take 2-m’s and a five away the 2-m’s are easy to take away but how can we take a 5 away? Add a 0 pair (+5 and -5) then take the +5 away leaving the -5
now you have mmmm -5
the last part of the set up is to take away 4-m’s (the -4m)
Solution: -5

My students really connected with the distributive property using this program!

Comments are closed.