Distributing
Start with any three numbers.
4
6
8
All the rectangles have the same height: 4.
In the calculations, this height applies to the entire
width: 4´(6 + 8)
But it also applies to each of the parts: (4 ´ 6) + (4
´ 8)
4
6
8
4
6 + 8
When you
are multiplying a factor (4) by a sum (6 + 8), it is okay to distribute the factor to each term of the sum.