HELPPPPPPP!!!!!!!!!!Use the distributive property to simplify this expression: 3(h - 7) I don't understand

Question

HELPPPPPPP!!!!!!!!!!Use the distributive property to simplify this expression: 3(h - 7)  I don't understand

anonymous · Answer

Well, this is simple. You just multiply the 3 from the outside of the parenthesis to the numbers on the inside. 

So let's start with what is 3 x h?

anonymous · Answer

3h?

anonymous · Answer

Yes! Now what is 3 x -7?

anonymous · Answer

21.

anonymous · Answer

No, it's -21. Now put the expression together, what do you get?

anonymous · Answer

Yea, that's what I meant. 
and Idk. ?

anonymous · Answer

You get 3h - 21.

anonymous · Answer

Is that the answer

anonymous · Answer

Yup!:) You can't simplify any further...

anonymous · Answer

Is that all u have to do for the distributive property ?

phi · Answer

btw,  be sure you understand how to do this, because you will use it a *lot* later on...

phi · Answer

the other thing is you will also "undistribute"  (called factoring) where you undo the distribution and go from 3h-21  back to 3(h-7)

anonymous · Answer

oh, How do I do that?I didn't learn that. ?

anonymous · Answer

You do the steps for distributing backwards, basically.

phi · Answer

you will... but if you understand how to do distribution, it helps when it comes to factoring.   so try to understand distribution  (which is not too hard, except maybe for the minus signs)

anonymous · Answer

ok,  thanks both of you. but sorry, phi, I gave wmkinely the medal.