Distributive Law of Multiplication over Addition ( Pictorial)

Author:
Lew W. S.
Compare the algebraic expression on the left and the number of objects on the first row in the picture on the right.

1. What is the factor (or coefficient) "2" outside the algebraic expression in brackets, compared with the picture showing the objects

2. For the expression within the brackets, what is the term 3r as compared to the objects in the first row on the right?

3. For the expression within the brackets, what is the term 5s as compared to the objects in the first row on the right?

4. What is the total number of objects in all the 2 rows? And when 2 is multiplied with each term in the brackets, what is the simplified algebraic expression?

Can you explain the concept of multiplying the terms within brackets by the factor (or coefficient) outside the brackets, from this example which has a positive integer as the factor/coefficient. Explore changing the values in the drop down lists