distributive property

[ dih-strib-yuh-tiv prop-er-tee ]

noun

1. Mathematics. the property that terms in an expression may be expanded in a particular way to form an equivalent expression.

Word History and Origins

Origin of distributive property¹

First recorded in 1810–15

Example Sentences

This is the distributive property.

From Literature

For everyday numbers to make sense, they have to have something called the distributive property, which is best seen through an example.

From Literature

“In math, it’s called the distributive property. In people, it’s called taking care of one another,” he implores.

From Seattle Times

Because it is a theorem in category theory, it is stated in a very general and abstract way, but she also showed how to apply it to a more concrete example, the distributive property of multiplication and addition.

From Scientific American

Ms. Ubiarco is giving Sabrina a math lesson — about the distributive property — on a white board in the family’s living room.

From New York Times