Which expression demonstrates the distributive property of multiplication over addition?

• A. 2 × (3 + 4) = 2 × 3 + 4
• B. 2 × (3 + 4) = (2 × 3) + (2 × 4)
• C. (2 + 3) × 4 = 2 × 3 + 4
• D. 2 × 3 + 4 = (2 × 3) + (2 × 4)

Answer: (C)

Distributive property means you multiply the factor outside the parentheses by each addend inside, then add those products. So for 2 × (3 + 4), you can distribute 2 to both 3 and 4: 2 × (3 + 4) = (2 × 3) + (2 × 4). This gives 6 + 8 = 14, showing the same value in two equivalent ways.

If you drop one of the products, like saying 2 × (3 + 4) = 2 × 3 + 4, you’re missing the 2 × 4 piece, and the two sides don’t match (6 + 4 = 10, not 14). If you try to apply distribution to a sum on the outside, such as (2 + 3) × 4, you should distribute the 4 to both 2 and 3, giving 2 × 4 + 3 × 4 = 8 + 12 = 20, not 10. And equating expressions that don’t follow the distribution pattern will also fail to balance.