Question

A teacher writes the expression 3 (6m + 3) and asks for students to write equivalent expressions. The table shows the students' responses.
Student
1
2
3
4
Response
9m + 6
18m + 3
18m + 9
21m
Select the best answer from the choices below:
Student 1 is correct because distributing the 3 in the teacher's expression yields Om + 6
Student 2 is correct because distributing the 3 in the teacher's expression yields 18m + 3
Student 3 is correct because distributing the 3 in the teacher's expression yields 18m + 9
Student 4 is correct because distributing the 3 in the teacher's expression, and then adding the two terms together yields 21m

Answer 1

Student 3 is correct. This is because you can distribute 3. You would do 3x6m, or 18m, and you can do 3x3, or 9. This means that Student 3 is correct. Since m is not defined as an integer, it can’t be any of the other choices.

Answer 2

Student 3 is correct because distributing the 3 in the teacher's expression yields 18m+9. Basically, everything in the parentheses was equally multiplied by 3, and you cankt add a variable and a number without one together, so it is the final and correct answer.