Question

How do you multiply `3.1(-1.2x+3.2y-1.1)`?

Answer 1

Distribute and simplify to get the answer: `-3.72 x + 9.92 y - 3.41`.

Explanation:

The distributive property in mathematics is a special property that helps us expand expressions like `3.1(-1.2x+3.2y-1.1)`.

If we are given an expression in the form `a(x+y)`, where a term multiplies a bracketed expression, then we can expand by multiplying each term in the bracket with the term outside:

`a(x+y) = ax + ay`

`a(x+y+z) = ax + ay + az`

`3.1(-1.2x+3.2y-1.1)`

`= (3.1)(-1.2x)+(3.1)(3.2y)+(3.1)(-1.1)`

`= -3.72 x + 9.92 y - 3.41`