Distributive Word Problems

Each day, you run on a treadmill for 20 minutes and lift weights for 15 minutes. Which expressions can you use to find how many minutes of exercise you do in 5 days?

• 5(20 + 15)

• 15(20 + 5)

• 20(15 + 5)

• 5(20 x 15)

An art club sells 42 large candles and 23 small candles each week. Write an expression showing how many candles they sell each in 7 weeks.

• 23(7 + 42)

• 7(23 + 42)

• 42(7 + 23)

• 7(23 x 42)

Apples sell for $0.75 and pears sell for $0.60. If Jamie sold 9 of each fruit, which expression shows this?

• 6($0.75 - $0.60)

• 9($0.75 + $0.60)

• 9($0.75 x $0.60)

• 6($0.60 + 9)

Seven people visited a local restaurant to get some lunch. A burger costs $8 and a bottle of soda costs $2. If all seven people ordered a burger and a soda, which a numerical expression shows the amount of money the restaurant made for this order.

• 7(2 + 8)

• 8(8 + 2)

• 2(8 + 7)

• 7(8 x 2)

Each row in a classroom has 11 girls and 12 boys. There people 9 rows in that class. Write a numerical expression to show the number of students in that class.

• 11(9 + 12)

• 11(9 x 12)

• 9(11 x 12)

• 9(11 + 12)

There are 6 groups of kids with 3 boys and 2 girls in each of the groups. Which expression represents this situation?

• 6 x 3 + 2
• (6 x 3) x 2
• (6 + 3) x (6 + 2)
• 6 (3 + 2) 

Frolie made gift bags for his teachers. He made 6 identical bags with 1 gift card, 2 packages of beef jerky, and 5 chocolates in each. Which expression represents this situation?

• 6 (1 + 2 + 5)
• (6 + 1) x (6 + 2) x (6 + 5)
• 6 (1 x 2 x 5)
• 6 + (1 x 2 x 5)

There are 8 rows of flowers in the garden. Each row has 3 roses, 4 mums, and 5 tulips. Which expression represents this situation?

• (8x3) x (8x4) x (8x5)

• 8 (3 + 4 + 5)

• 8 (3 x 4 x 5)

• 8 + 3 + 4 + 5

Mr. Boughton gave each of his three children a $20 bill and a $100 for their birthdays (all of which are in March). Which expression represents the total amount he gave?

• 100(3 x 20)

• 3(100 x 20)

• 3(100 + 20)

• 20(100 x 3)

Mrs. Holy has 3 sisters.
-She mailed 2 cards to each of her sisters in November
-She mailed 5 cards to each of her sisters in December.
The expression (2 x 3) + (5 x 3) could be used to find the total number of cards Mrs. Parrish mailed to her sisters.  Which expression shows another way to find the total number of cards Mrs. Holly mailed to her sisters?

• 2 x 3 + 8
• (2 + 3) x 5
• 3 x 2 + 5
• 3 x (2 + 5)