av \( 5(12+6)=(5 \times \square)+(5 \times \square)=\square+\square=\square \) b \( 20(40-6)=(20 \times \square)-(\square \times \square)=\square-\square=\square \) Use the inverse of the distributive property to complete the fol av \( (4 \times 12)+(4 \times 6)=4(\square+\square)=4 \times \square=\square \) b \( (25 \times 30)-(25 \times 2)=25(\square-\square)=\square \times \square=\square \)

Let's dive into the magic of distributing numbers! When you see an expression like \(5(12+6)\), think of it as sharing candy with friends. You’re giving 5 candies for every friend in the group of 12+6, which is a total of 18 friends. That’s why we can express it as \(5 \times 18\). It makes math fun by simplifying big efforts into small parts! Now, let’s tackle that second part! The distributive property is incredibly handy, like a Swiss Army knife for solving equations. For \( (4 \times 12)+(4 \times 6) = 4(12+6) \), instead of working through each multiplication separately, group the factors first. This quick grouping tells you to multiply 4 by the total of \(12 + 6\), leading to \(4 \times 18\). Such teamwork really helps streamline our calculations and shows just how powerful we can be with math!