1. 3-1 The Distributive Property
How are rectangles related to the Distributive Property?

2. Finding the Area of a Rectangle
You find the area of a rectangle by using the formula length times width.
On the next page, you will see two rectangles. There are two ways of finding their total areas.

3. Method 1 Put them together Add the lengths + = Multiply ( ) = 2 4 6 7
+ =
Multiply
( ) = 6 7 42

4. Method 2 Separate them. Multiply to find each area. Add. 2 4 7 7
4(7) = 28
2(7) = 14
Add. 7 7

5. Key Concept
To multiply a number by a sum, multiply each number inside the parentheses by the number outside the parentheses.

6. Use the Distributive Property
2(6 + 4) (8 + 3)5

7. 4(5 + 8) (6 + 9)2

8. Use the Distributive Property to Solve a Problem
A one-day pass to an amusement park costs $40. A round-trip bus ticket to the park costs $5. Write two equivalent expressions to find the total cost of a one-day pass and a bus ticket for 15 students. Find the total cost.

9. North Country Rivers of York, Maine, offers one-day white-water rafting trips on te Kennebec River. The trip costs $68 per person, and wet suits are $15 each to rent. Write two equivalent expressions to find the total cost of one trip for a family of four if each person rents a wet suit. Find the total cost.

10. Simplify Algebraic Expressions
Use the Distributive Property to write each expression as an equivalent algebraic expression. 3(x + 1) (y + 4)5 4(x + 4) (y + 3)6

11. 2(x – 1) -3(n – 5) 4(x – 2) -2(n – 3)