Question

The following steps were used to simplify the expression 4(3 + ).
4(3 + )
4 • 3 + 4 •
12 + 1
13
Which of the following properties were used to simplify this problem? Not all steps required using a property.
a) associative property and commutative property
b) associative property and multiplicative inverse
c) distributive property and multiplicative inverse
d) distributive property and multiplicative identity

Answer 1

Is there supposed to be something inside the right parentheses? The problem doesn't make sense as is. If the problem is: 4(3+1), then the steps could be:
4*3 + 4*1 (distribution and multiplicative identity)
12+4
=16
I don't see how you could get from 4*3 + 4 to 12+1 -- something is wacky there.

Answer 2

Sorry. I forgot the 1/4.

Answer 3

Okay, so it's 4(3 + 1/4)?
4*3 + 4*1/4
12 + 1
13
In that case, I think the correct answer is C, because 1/4 is the multiplicative inverse of 4.