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!
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!