The Distributive Property Guided Notes + Homework Set

State and apply the rule that a term outside a parenthesis multiplies every term inside it

Distribute a negative multiplier correctly, treating each term inside as positive or negative before multiplying

Distribute a bare negative sign, as in –(12 – 4x + 5y), where the multiplier is an unwritten -1

Work the notes in printed order: positives, then negatives, then combining like terms, then parentheses that are not at the front — each block adds exactly one new difficulty

The bare-negative cases, –(19a – 8 + 11c – 12k) on the notes and –(12 – 4x + 5y) on the assignment, are where most errors start; the notes give the sign rule immediately before them

Question 8 on the assignment, -23 + 5(-2x + 6) + 10x, is the one that tests all three skills at once — distributing, handling the negative constant, and combining like terms

Applying the distributive property — students complete the rule in the notes and then expand expressions from 7(y + 6) to 8(3x – 2 + w).

Distributing negatives — six notes expressions and several assignment questions put a negative outside the parenthesis, as in -9(-9 + 8f) and -5(4 – 10x).

Handling an implicit -1 — expressions written as –(12 – 4x + 5y) require students to recognise the unwritten multiplier.