Carolyn N. Kinder
Distributive Property
Content Standard 7.0 Mathematical Communication: Students will demonstrate their ability to communicate, both orally and in writing, mathematical ideas and mathematical applications to ordinary situations.
Performance Standard 7.1: Students will use mathematical language and representations with appropriate accuracy, including numerical tables and equations, simple algebraic equations and formulas, charts, graphs and diagrams to make complex situations easier to understand.
Strategies: Have students explain whether you can apply the Distributive Property to division and subtraction. You can draw a rectangular array to show how to find a product. A rectangular is 5 unit wide and 16 units long. You can use simple multiplication facts to find the area of the rectangle.
(image available in print form)
What multiplication expression describes the area of the rectangle? 6 x 16
Would it be easier to find the area of the rectangle if you divided it into two pairs? Explain! The diagram shows one way to divide the rectangle. Divide your rectangle and shade each part 6 x (10 + 6)
(image available in print form)
How does the diagram show 6 x 16?
How does it show (6 x 10) + (6 x 6)?
How does it show 6 x (10 + 6)?
Find the area of the rectangle. Use the Distributive Property.
Area = 6 x 16 =56 + 36
= (6 x 10) + (6 x 6) = 96
New Haven Math Standards for Grades 5-8
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