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Which operation is involved in the distributive property?

  1. Addition

  2. Subtraction

  3. Multiplication

  4. Division

The correct answer is: Multiplication

The distributive property involves the operation of multiplication in conjunction with addition or subtraction. It allows you to multiply a single term by two or more terms inside parentheses. For example, when you see an expression like \( a(b + c) \), the distributive property enables you to multiply \( a \) by both \( b \) and \( c \) individually, resulting in \( ab + ac \). This property is fundamental in simplifying expressions and solving equations. It helps in breaking down complex expressions into simpler parts, making calculations easier. In contrast, while addition, subtraction, and division can play roles in various arithmetic operations, they are not the primary focus of the distributive property itself. Thus, multiplication is the operation that characterizes the distributive property.