1957 AHSME Problems/Problem 4

The first step in finding the product $(3x + 2)(x - 5)$ by use of the distributive property in the form $a(b + c) = ab + ac$ is:

$\textbf{(A)}\ 3x^2 - 13x - 10 \qquad \textbf{(B)}\ 3x(x - 5) + 2(x - 5)\qquad \\ \textbf{(C)}\ (3x+2)x+(3x+2)(-5)\qquad \textbf{(D)}\ 3x^2-17x-10\qquad \textbf{(E)}\ 3x^2+2x-15x-10$

Solution

In order to find the product by using this form of the distributive property, we should express $(3x + 2)(x - 5)$ as $(3x + 2)(x) + (3x + 2)(-5)$ . Thusly, $\boxed{\text{(C)}}$ is our answer, and we are done.

1957 AHSC (Problems • Answer Key • Resources)
Preceded by Problem 3	Followed by Problem 5
1 • 2 • 3 • 4 • 5 • 6 • 7 • 8 • 9 • 10 • 11 • 12 • 13 • 14 • 15 • 16 • 17 • 18 • 19 • 20 • 21 • 22 • 23 • 24 • 25 • 26 • 27 • 28 • 29 • 30 • 31 • 32 • 33 • 34 • 35 • 36 • 37 • 38 • 39 • 40 • 41 • 42 • 43 • 44 • 45 • 46 • 47 • 48 • 49 • 50
All AHSME Problems and Solutions

The problems on this page are copyrighted by the Mathematical Association of America's American Mathematics Competitions.

Page

Toolbox

Search

1957 AHSME Problems/Problem 4

Solution

See also