The distributive property and mixed operations · Usually met around P4
Mixed-operation shortcuts
Read it all first: brackets come first.
How to do it
Method
Read it all first: brackets come first
(5 + 7) × 3 = 12 × 3 = 36
One more example
48 ÷ 6 + 9 = 8 + 9 = 17
In full
Read the whole line before you start. Are there any brackets? Any pair that makes a round number? In 25 × 8 × 4, doing 25×4=100 first is much quicker. Change the order only when the rules allow it.
Worked examples
Have a go first, then open each one for the answer and the working.
Example 1
(8 + 5) × 4
Show the answer and working
Answer: (8 + 5) × 4 = 52
(8 + 5) × 4: brackets first, 8 + 5 = 13, 13 × 4 = 52
Example 2
(9 + 8) × 9
Show the answer and working
Answer: (9 + 8) × 9 = 153
(9 + 8) × 9: brackets first, 9 + 8 = 17, 17 × 9 = 153
Example 3
24 ÷ 3 + 10
Show the answer and working
Answer: 24 ÷ 3 + 10 = 18
24 ÷ 3 + 10: × and ÷ before + and −, 24 ÷ 3 = 8, 8 + 10 = 18
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