Distributing Algebraic Expressions With Numbers and Variables

Distributing Algebraic Expressions with Numbers and Variables
Distributing variables and exponents in algebraic expressions involves the distributive property and a few
new rules. Learn how to distribute variables and exponents using the distributive property, and practice some
example problems.
Distribution
The distributive property is a lot like those vendors that walk around the stands at baseball
games and other events. The distributive property tells us that a(b + c) = ab + ac. Imagine that
b and c are Brett and Charlie. Maybe they want hot dogs, or lemonades, or ice cream cones.
Along comes the distributive property, and it distributes a to both b and c, giving Brett and
Charlie, um, apples? Apricots? Asparagus? The asparagus vendor usually isn't very popular.
We've seen the distributive property used to simplify an expression like this: 7(x + 1). We just
multiply 7 * x to get 7x, then 7 * 1 to get 7, leaving us with 7x + 7. That's your normal, everyday
distribution. It's the hot dog vendor of distributing with algebraic expressions.
But what about that asparagus vendor? Or, better yet, the yeast vendor? That's something like
y(2x + 3). Hey, maybe it's a hot day and a boring game. I always carry flour with me. Don't you?
Let's make some dough.
Anyway, how do we distribute that variable, y? And what about those more complicated
vendors? I once saw a guy with kabobs of fruit drizzled with chocolate. That's more like 4(x^3)
(y^5)(7x^2 + 9xy^3 - 3y^7). What are we supposed to do with that? Let's find out.
Distributing Variables
Before we get to our chocolate drizzled fruit kabobs, let's start with simple yeast. Remember
that example, y(2x + 1)? How does the distributive property change when we need to distribute a
variable instead of just a number?
It doesn't! We tackle simplifying this expression just as we would if that y were a number. We
start with y * 2x, which is 2xy. Remember that when you multiply two different variables
together, you can't combine them. Then we do y * 1, which is just y. So, our simplified
expression is 2xy + y. Can we simplify any further? Both terms have a y in them, but since the
first term has that x, we can't simplify any further, so we're done!
Practice
Ok, vendors selling yeast is a weird idea. Let's say there's a vendor selling pie. Who wouldn't like
a nice slice of pie in the late innings of a close game? Here we have an expression with p for pie:
3p(4p - 2r). It looks like one of our pie customers already has some pie but wants more. The
other one has an r. Hmm, rutabaga?
No matter what foodstuffs we're talking about, the distribution rules don't change. We do 3p *
4p. What's 3 * 4? 12. What's p * p? When we multiply a variable times a variable like this, we
need to add the exponents. So, p * p = p^1 * p^1, or p^(1+1), which is p^2. That makes our first
term 12p^2. Next, we do 3p * 2r. 3 * 2 is 6. p * r is just pr. So, our second term is 6pr. That makes
our simplified expression 12p^2 - 6pr, and there was pie for all.
Distributing Exponents
We had to add an exponent in that one. What if we start with exponents? Let's hold off on
getting to that fruit kabob one and start simple. What about 5x^3(4x + 2x^2)? This is maybe like a
vendor hawking chair-side fresh guacamole. Uncommon? Definitely. Tasty? Absolutely.
Just like before, we use the distributive property and multiply the term outside the parentheses,
5x^3, by the terms inside the parentheses. First, 5x^3 * 4x. What's 5 * 4? 20. Now x^3 * x. Be
careful here. We saw in the last example that p * p is p^2. p was the same as p^1. So, p^1 * p^1
is p^(1 + 1), or p^2. Here, we do the same thing: add the exponents. So, x^3 * x^1 = x^(3 + 1),
which is x^4. So, our first term is 20x^4.
The second part is 5x^3 * 2x^2. What's 5 * 2? 10. Then it's x^3 * x^2. Again, be careful with the
exponents: x^3 * x^2 is x^(3 + 2), or x^5. That makes our second term 10x^5. Put it together, and
we have 20x^4 + 10x^5. We can't combine terms with unlike exponents, so that's our answer.
Practice
Ok, time to tackle the fruit kabob: 4(x^3)(y^5)(7x^2 + 9xy^3 - 3y^7). That's a complicated but
intriguing treat, isn't it? Let's handle this very carefully. We don't want to drip chocolate on the
guy in front of us or poke our neighbor with the kabob skewer!
We're trying to distribute 4(x^3)(y^5). That's a term with a number and two variables with
exponents; so, lots to keep track of. We start with:
1. 4(x^3)(y^5) * 7x^2
2. 4 * 7 = 28
3. x^3 * x^2 = x to the what? Add 3 + 2 to get 5.
4. The y^5 just comes along.
5. So, our first term is 28(x^5)(y^5).
Next up?
1. 4(x^3)(y^5) * 9xy^3
2. 4 * 9 = 36.
3. x^3 * x = x^4. Remember, add the exponents.
4. And y^5 * y^3 = y to the what? y^8.
5. So, our second term is 36(x^4)(y^8).
Ok, one more.
1. 4(x^3)(y^5) * 3y^7
2. 4 * 3 = 12
3. x^3 is just along for the ride.
4. y^5 * y^7 = y^12
5. So, our final term is 12(x^3)(y^12). Note that it was - 3y^7, so it's -12(x^3)(y^12).
Let's put it all together to get 28(x^5)(y^5) + 36(x^4)(y^8) - 12(x^3)(y^12). Whew. That's not just a
fruit kabob. That's a cornucopia!
Lesson Summary
To summarize, we practiced using the distributive property. This property states that a(b + c) =
ab + ac.
In this lesson, we looked at how we distribute variables and variables with exponents. The rules
of distribution don't change. With a variable, we still multiply it by the terms inside the
parentheses. When we have exponents, and we're multiplying variables with exponents
together, we add the exponents. And whether it's hot dogs or chocolate-drizzled fruit kabobs,
there's a vendor for everyone!
Learning Outcome
At the end of this lesson you should be able to implement the distributive property in solving
equations with variables and exponents.
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Distributing Algebraic Expressions With Numbers and Variables - Video & Lesson Transcript PDF

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Distributing Algebraic Expressions With Numbers and Variables - Video & Lesson Transcript PDF

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3. x^3 * x^2 = x to the what? Add 3 + 2 to get 5.

4. The y^5 just comes along.

5. So, our first term is 28(x^5)(y^5).

3. x^3 * x = x^4. Remember, add the exponents.

4. And y^5 * y^3 = y to the what? y^8.

5. So, our second term is 36(x^4)(y^8).

Ok, one more.

3. x^3 is just along for the ride.

4. y^5 * y^7 = y^12

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