is it possible to use the distributive property to rewrite 85+99 as a product of a whole number greater than 1 and a sum of two whole numbers? explain your answer

It is not possible to use distributive property to rewrite 85+99 as a product of a whole number greater than 1 and a sum of two whole numbers

Solution:

Given that we have to find if it is possible to use the distributive property to rewrite 85 + 99 as a product of a whole number greater than 1 and a sum of two whole numbers

No, it is not possible because they do not share any common whole multiplier

The distributive property lets you multiply a sum by multiplying each addend separately and then add the products.

a (b + c) = ab + ac

But here given that, two numbers are 85 and 99

85 + 99 = 17 x 5 + 33 x 3

Here we cannot factor out a term (i. e we cannot take a common term), since they do not share a common factor

Also,

factors of 85 = 1, 5, 17, 85

factors of 99 = 1, 3, 9, 11, 33, 99

Here we find a common factor 1, but we cannot use it since given that we have to use a whole number greater than 1

So we cannot use distributive property to rewrite 85+99 as a product of a whole number greater than 1 and a sum of two whole numbers