Learn to solve equations using the distributive property with the following three good examples.
Example #1
Solve 2(x - 4) = 10 using the distributive property
2(x - 4) = 10
Use the distributive property
2x - 8 = 10
Isolate x by adding 8 to both sides of the equation
2x - 8 = 10
2x - 8 + 8 = 10 + 8
2x = 18
Divide each side by 2
2x/2 = 18/2
x = 9
Example #2
Solve 6(x - 2) = 2(9 - 2x) using the distributive property
6(x - 2) = 2(9 - 2x)
Use the distributive property
6x - 12 = 18 - 4x
Isolate x by adding 12 to both sides of the equations and by adding 4x to both sides of the equations.
6x + 4x - 12 + 12 = 18 + 12 - 4x + 4x
6x + 4x = 18 + 12
Simplify
10x = 30
Divide both sides by 10
10x/10 = 30/10
x = 3
Example #3
Solve -2x + 4(x + 3) = 2(-3x + -6) using the distributive property
-2x + 4(x + 3) = 2(-3x + -6)
Use the distributive property
-2x + 4x + 12 = -6x + -12
Isolate x by subtracting 12 from each side of the equation and by adding 6x to both sides of the equation
-2x + 4x + 12 - 12 + 6x = -6x + 6x + -12 - 12
-2x + 4x + 6x = -12 - 12
Simplify
8x = -24
Divide both sides by 8
8x/8 = -24/8
x = -3