Combining like terms with distribution and negative numbers

The first instance of the Combining like terms with distribution exercise falls under the Algebra I Math Mission. The objective of this exercise is that the distributive property can be used with variables too.

Types of problems
1. Simplify the following expression - This kind of problem has an expression and the student is required to simplify it using the distributive property.

Strategies
1. It is hard to get the speed badges and the accuracy badges in this skill. Using the distributive property on the expression may take some time and combining the like terms and simplifying further may take time too.

2. Suppose you have a(b+c), you must multiply the a(the term outside) by the two terms inside, getting ab+ac.