Question

Simplify the following expression: 4(12x + 16)

Answer 1

Answer:

The given expression simplified is 48x + 64.

Step-by-step explanation:

Solving this problem entails of simplifying the expression provided. We'll use the distributive law, or the distributive property, to write the expression in the simplest form.

Distributive law states:

• a(b + c) ⟶ (a × b) + (a × c)

We know that...

• a = 4
• b = 12x
• c = 16

Following the rules of distributive law, we can set up the expression to match this property.

a(b + c)  ⟶  4(12x + 16)  ⟶  (4 × 12x) + (4 × 16)

The expression will now be easier to simplify. Here, the last step would be to multiply the terms within the parentheses. Remember that we cannot multiply a number by a variable. When you multiply '4' by '12x', just multiply twelve and four, and leave the variable as is.

(4 × 12x) + (4 × 16)

48x + (4 × 16)

48x + 64

Think back on what I mentioned earlier about not being able to multiply a number by a variable. The same rule applies to adding two terms, in which one is a constant and the other consists of a coefficient and variable. Our simplified expression has '48x', which is a coefficient and variable, and '64', which is a constant. This means we cannot add these two terms together.

Our expression seems to be in the simplest form because no further actions can be taken. The correct answer should be 48x + 64.