Use the distributive property to simplify the expression below

Question

anonymous · Answer

|dw:1352339582656:dw|

anonymous · Answer

x + 3 

 −x + 3 

 x − 3 

 x − 9

anonymous · Answer

ok, so remember what we did with the reverse distribution property before? we are going to do that again. what will the top look like if you pull out a common factor?

anonymous · Answer

That can be broken up into 2 separate fractions. In other words the -3 denominator applies to each of the terms in the numerator. Think about what can cancel

anonymous · Answer

x-3 just distribute the denominator

anonymous · Answer

Incase you guys haven't noticed I have a lot of trouble with distributive property..

anonymous · Answer

lol, that's alright, no worries. another way you can look at a problem like this is if you break it up into it's parts and write it differently. so (-3x-9)/-3 can also be written like this:$$(1/-3 )(-3x-9)$$

anonymous · Answer

so when you distribute the division this way, you will get:
$$(-3x/3) - (9/-3)$$

anonymous · Answer

then it's just a matter of cancelling to get $$x+3$$

anonymous · Answer

Ok I understand a little better..