The distributive law says that multiplying a number by a group of numbers added together is the same as doing each multiplication separately.

The dividend is the amount we are dividing.

Explain how the distributive law applies to division expressions with a common divisor

Maths

In this unit pupils will explain how addition and subtraction can help to solve multiplication and division problems efficiently. They will learn how the distributive law applies to division expressions with a common divisor and using the distributive law to solve equations. In the future unit pupils will use priority of operations with positive and integers and decimals.

In the prior unit pupils explained the use of the commutative and associative laws when multiplying 3 or more numbers. In this unit pupils will explain how addition and subtraction can help solve multiplication and division problems. They will learn how the distributive law applies to division expressions with a common divisor and use their knowledge of the distributive law to solve equations. 

Order of operations

Which expression has the same value as this expression? 24 ÷ 4 + 40 ÷ 4

How many coins are there in total? Which of the following correctly shows how to use the distributive law to solve this problem?

There are four tables in a classroom. Sam shares out 32 workbooks equally and Jun shares out 12 textbooks equally. How many books are there on each table? {{ }} books.

Which expression matches this problem? 
The new version of Battle Robots game uses teams of 4	Jun has 20 robots and Sam has 32 robots. Who can make the most teams, and by how many?

 Jun has 35 p in 5-pence coins and Sam has 25 p in 5-pence coins. How many more coins does Jun have than Sam?  Jun has {{ }} more coins. 

For the following equation, which operation should we undertake first? 5 + 8 − 1 ÷ 2 =

For the following equation, which operation should we undertake first? (5 + 7) ÷ 2 =

Match the equations to the correct solutions. 

Tick the equation which has the lowest value.

This lesson will be removed by end of Summer Term 2025.

Explain how the distributive law applies to division expressions with a common divisor

Lesson outcome

This lesson will be removed by end of Summer Term 2025.