Distributive Property Worksheets

There are five sets of simplifying expressions worksheets:

• Simplify Expressions (Add, Subtract Like Terms)
  
• Simplify Expressions (Multiply, Divide)
  
• Simplify Expressions (Distributive Property)
  
• Simplify Expressions (Combine Like Terms)
  
• Simplify Expressions (Distributive Property & Combine Like Terms)
  

Examples, solutions, videos, and worksheets to help Grade 6 and Grade 7 students learn how to simplify an expression by using the distributive property.

How to use the distributive property to simplify an expression?

There are three sets of using distributive property to simplify an expression worksheets.

• Simplify Expressions using Distributive Property (One Variable)
• Simplify Expressions using Distributive Property (Two Variables)
• Simplify Expressions using Distributive Property (Include Combine Like Terms)

The distributive property is a mathematical rule that states that when a number is multiplied by a sum, the product is the same as multiplying each of the addends by the number and then adding the products together.

Steps on how to use the distributive property to simplify an expression:

1. Identify the value outside the parentheses. This is the value to be distributed to the other terms in the expression.
2. Multiply the value outside the parentheses by each of the terms inside the parentheses.
3. Combine the terms that were created by the multiplication.
4. Simplify the expression if necessary.

Example:
Expression: 5(x + 2)

1. Distribute the 5:
   5 × x = 5x
   5 × 2 = 10
2. Combine the terms:
   5x + 10

Example:
Expression: -3(2x - 5y)

1. Distribute the -3:
   -3 × 2x = -6x
   -3 × -5y = 15y
2. Combine the terms:
   -6x + 15y

Example:
Expression: -3(2x - 5y) + 3x

1. Distribute the -3:
   -3 × 2x = -6x
   -3 × -5y = 15y
2. Combine the terms:
   -6x + 15y + 3x
3. Simplify the expression:
   -3x + 15y

Have a look at this video if you need to review how to use the distributive property to simplify an expression.

• Simplifying expressions using the distributive property

Click on the following worksheet to get a printable pdf document.
Scroll down the page for more Distributive Property Worksheets.

 

More Distributive Property Worksheets

Printable
(Answers on the second page.)
Distributive Property Worksheet #1 (one variable)
Distributive Property Worksheet #2 (two variables)
Distributive Property Worksheet #3 (include combine like terms)

Online or Generated
Evaluate Expressions by Substitution
Simplify Expressions by Combining Like Terms
Simplify Expressions using Distributive Property
Use Distributive Property & Combine Like Terms

Related Lessons & Worksheets

Solving Equations using Distributive Property
Solving Equations by Combining like terms

More Printable Worksheets

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