Question

two friends, ben and chloe, are evaluating the expression $2 \times (-3 - 4)$ using the distributive property, as shown below: ben: $2 \times 3 + 8$ chloe: $(2 \times (-3)) - (-8)$ who evaluated the expression correctly? a both ben and chloe b neither ben nor chloe c ben d chloe

Explanation:

Step1: Recall distributive property

The distributive property is $a\times(b-c) = a\times b - a\times c$. For $2\times(-3-4)$, this expands to $2\times(-3) - 2\times4 = 2\times(-3) - 8$.

Step2: Evaluate Ben's work

Ben wrote $2\times3 +8$. He incorrectly changed $-3$ to $3$ and the subtraction to addition, so his work is wrong.

Step3: Evaluate Chloe's work

Chloe wrote $(2\times(-3)) - (-8)$. She incorrectly rewrote $- 2\times4$ as $-(-8)$, so her work is also wrong.

Answer:

B. Neither Ben nor Chloe