Mental Math Strategies

7 | Multiplication by the distributive property

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Introduction

The distributive property of multiplication over addition equates a product with a sum. By writing a sum that is more convenient than the product, we can use the distributive property as a strategy for mental multiplication.


Step by step | Multiplication by the distributive property

  1. Rewrite the product as an equivalent sum.
  2. Multiply each term in the sum.
  3. Add the terms to find the original product.

Example | Multiplication by the distributive property

Q: 8 × 14

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A: The product of 8 and 14 is easier as the sum 8×10 + 8×4:
8 × 10 = 80
8 × 4 = 32
8 × 14 = 80 + 32 = 112.

Practice | Multiplication by the distributive property

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