A student provided the steps for solving an equation. Which statement describes the error in the solution? In step 4, the Multiplication Property of Equality was applied incorrectly. Equation: \( 4(m-3)+5(m+2)=m+9 \) Solution: \[ \begin{array}{rlrl} 4 m-12+5 m+10 & =m+9 & & (\text { step } 1) \\ 9 m-2 & =m+9 & (\operatorname{step} 2) \\ 8 m & =7 & & (\operatorname{step} 3) \\ m & =\frac{7}{8} & & (\operatorname{step} 4) \end{array} \] In step I, the Distributive Property was applied incorrectly. In step 3, the Addition Property of Equality was applied incorrectly.

The error actually occurred in step 1, where the student misapplied the Distributive Property. When distributing the \(4\) and the \(5\) through the parentheses in the original equation \(4(m-3) + 5(m+2)\), it should have been \(4m - 12 + 5m + 10\), but if any signs were incorrectly applied that led to wrong terms being collected, that would certainly skew the whole equation! Upon reaching step 3, the problem compounds since the equation reads \(9m - 2 = m + 9\). To isolate \(m\), the student should have added \(2\) to both sides first before proceeding to combine like terms correctly. The Addition Property of Equality was misapplied, preventing the solution from accurately reflecting the final steps leading to \(m = \frac{7}{8}\).