Written by the Fiveable Content Team • Last updated September 2025
Verified for the 2026 exam
Verified for the 2026 exam•Written by the Fiveable Content Team • Last updated September 2025
Definition
The distributive law allows us to distribute (or break apart) an expression into smaller parts and then combine them back together. It helps simplify calculations by breaking down complex expressions.
Related terms
Expression: A combination of variables, constants, and operators used to represent a value or perform calculations.
Coefficient: A number multiplied by a variable in an algebraic expression.
Like Terms: Terms in an algebraic expression that have identical variables raised to identical powers.