Question

use the distribute property to create an equivalent expression using the fewest number of terms. 3(x + 5) options: 3x + 5, 2x + 2, 3x + 15

Explanation:

Step1: Recall the distributive property

The distributive property states that \( a(b + c)=ab+ac \). For the expression \( 3(x + 5) \), we apply this property where \( a = 3 \), \( b=x \) and \( c = 5 \).

Step2: Apply the distributive property

Multiply 3 with each term inside the parentheses: \( 3\times x+3\times5 \).
Simplify the multiplications: \( 3x + 15 \).

Answer:

\( 3x + 15 \) (corresponding to the green - colored option with the expression \( 3x + 15 \))