Question

1 multiple choice 5 points
zoe claims that the expression $-4(m - 2)$ is equivalent to $-4m-2$
a. zoe did not subtract 2 from $-4m$; the equivalent expression is $-6m$.
b. zoe did not subtract 2 from $-4$; the equivalent expression is $-4m-6$.
c. zoe did not find the product of $-4$ and $-2$; the equivalent expression is $-4m+8$.
d. zoe did not keep the parentheses around $-2$; the equivalent expression is $-4m(-2)$.

Explanation:

Step1: Apply distributive property

The distributive property states $a(b - c) = ab - ac$. For $-4(m - 2)$, this gives:
$$-4 \times m - (-4) \times 2$$

Step2: Calculate each term

Compute the products:
$$-4m + 8$$

Step3: Identify Zoe's error

Zoe incorrectly calculated $-4 \times (-2)$ as $-2$ instead of $+8$.

Answer:

C. Zoe did not find the product of -4 and -2; the equivalent expression is -4m+8.