Question

Choose which best explains the distributive property.

a property of the real numbers that states that the order in which numbers are added or multiplied does not change the value
a property of the real numbers that states that how numbers are grouped in a sum or product does not change the value
a(b + c) = ab + ac, or a(b - c) = ab - ac

Answer 1

I would say that the answer that best describes the distributive property is "a property of the real numbers that states that the order in which numbers are added or multiplied does not change the value". Distributive property says that when you have a(b+c), you can add b and c together and then multiply by a or multiply b and c by a separately and then add them together after. It does not matter what order you choose to add and multiply in.

I hope this helps :)