Distributive Property Area Model: Multiply 15(2b + 3c + 4d)

Published on March 12, 2026

Pre-Algebra

Learn to multiply a monomial by a trinomial using the area model to find the partial products (30b, 45c, 60d) and the final sum (30b + 45c + 60d).

Question

Answer

Here is the step-by-step solution using the area model to multiply .
The area model requires multiplying the term outside the parenthesis (15) by each term inside the parenthesis ( , , and ). These results are the partial products, which correspond to the areas of the three rectangles in the model.
Step 1: Find the partial products.
  1. First rectangle (under ):
    Multiply by :
  2. Second rectangle (under ):
    Multiply by :
  3. Third rectangle (under ):
    Multiply by :
The partial products to fill in the boxes in the area model are , , and .
Step 2: Write the product.
The product is the sum of the partial products:
This is an application of the Distributive Property.
Final Answer Formatting:
The partial products (filling the boxes in the diagram, from left to right) are , , and .
The final product is: