Question

Use the distributive property to evaluate the expression.

$3(8+5)$

Short answer

$3 (8 + 5 ) = 39$.

Step-by-step solution

Step-1 – What are real numbers? 

Real numbers are simply the combination of Whole numbers, Integers, Rational and Irrational numbers in the number system.

Step-2 – Distributive Property of Multiplication 

Suppose a, b, and c is three real numbers.

Distributive Property of Multiplication

Property: $\text{a} \text{(b} \text{+} \text{c} \text{)} = \text{a} · \text{b} + \text{a} · \text{c}$

Example: $\text{12} \text{(3} \text{+} \text{4} \text{)} = \text{12} · \text{3} + \text{12} · \text{4} = 36 + 48 = 84$

Step-3:  Use the distributive property to evaluate the expression.

Distributive Property of Multiplication

Property: $\text{a} \text{(b} \text{+} \text{c} \text{)} = \text{a} · \text{b} + \text{a} · \text{c}$

$3 (8 + 5 ) = 3 · 8 + 3 · 5 = 24 + 15 = 39$

$3 (8 + 5 ) = 39$