✖️ We Distribute, Yet Things Multiply
Chapter 6: Quick Revision Notes | Class 8 Mathematics | Ganita Prakash
Distributivity connects multiplication and addition. Algebra lets us write patterns and proofs in a compact, powerful way using this property!
Also: (a + b) × c = ac + bc
What is an Identity? 🤔
Example: a(b + 8) = ab + 8a is an identity — works for ANY a and b!
→ New product = a(b+1) = ab + a (increases by a!)
If we increase a by 1 AND b by 1:
→ (a+1)(b+1) = ab + (a + b + 1) (increases by a+b+1!)
→ (a+1)(b−1) = ab + (b − a − 1)
Product may increase OR decrease depending on values!
When a is increased by m and b is increased by n:
Increase = an + bm + mn
(a + m)(b + n) → a×b + a×n + m×b + m×n = 4 terms
Example: ba + ab = ab + ab = 2ab (since ba = ab)
What is (a + b)²? It means (a + b) × (a + b). Let's expand it!
104²= (100+4)² = 10000 + 800 + 16 = 10816 ✅
37² = (40−3)² = use Identity 1B! → 1600 − 240 + 9 = 1369
What is (a − b)²? We can think of it as (a + (−b))² and use Identity 1A!
(a − b)² = a² − 2ab + b²
Only the sign of the middle term changes! Middle = ±2ab
58² = (60−2)² = 3600 − 240 + 4 = 3364 ✅
55² = (60−5)² = 3600 − 600 + 25 = 3025 ✅
Twice the sum of squares = sum of (sum)² and (difference)²
Example: 2(5²+6²) = (5+6)² + (6−5)² = 121 + 1 = 122 ✅
Pattern spotted from numbers:
8×8 − 6×6 = 14×2 → 64−36 = 28 ✅
Pattern: a² − b² = (a+b)(a−b)
45 × 55 = (50−5)(50+5) = 50² − 5² = 2500 − 25 = 2475 ✅
31² = (31+1)(31−1) + 1² = 32×30 + 1 = 960+1 = 961 ✅
Choose b to make (a+b) and (a−b) easy to multiply!
197² → b=3 → 200×194 + 9 = 38800 + 9 = 38809 🤯
The distributive property gives us amazing mental math shortcuts! 🧠
Any number × 11 = number × (10+1) = number×10 + number
3 8 7 4 × 11
= 3 8 7 4 × 10 + 3 8 7 4
────────────────────
3 (8+3) (7+8) (4+7) 4
= 4 2 6 1 4 = 42614
Rule: Add adjacent digits from right to left. Carry if sum > 9!
Number × 101 = number × (100+1) = number×100 + number
d c b a × 101
= d c (b+d) (a+c) b a
Example: 3874 × 101 = 3 | 8 | (7+3) | (4+8) | 7 | 4
= 3 | 8 | 10 | 12 | 7 | 4 → carry → 391474
Add adjacent digits. Use (10+1) split.
Use (100+1) split. Shift + add original.
Use (100−1) / (1000−1). Identity 1C!
98×102 = (100−2)(100+2) = 100²−4
| Identity | Formula | Middle Term | Use When |
|---|---|---|---|
| ⭐ 1A | (a+b)² = a² + 2ab + b² | +2ab | Squaring a sum |
| ⭐ 1B | (a−b)² = a² − 2ab + b² | −2ab | Squaring a difference |
| ⭐ 1C | (a+b)(a−b) = a² − b² | 0 (cancels!) | Product of sum×diff |
| ⭐ 1 | (a+m)(b+n) = ab+mb+an+mn | — | General expansion |
🔮 All Key Formulas:
🔍 Identity 1A vs 1B vs 1C at a Glance:
| Check | 1A: (a+b)² | 1B: (a−b)² | 1C: (a+b)(a−b) |
|---|---|---|---|
| a² term | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes |
| b² term | ✅ +b² | ✅ +b² | ❌ −b² |
| Middle term | +2ab | −2ab | None (=0) |
| Result terms | 3 terms | 3 terms | 2 terms |
| Shortcut for | 65², 104² | 99², 58² | 98×102 |
2️⃣ (a+b)² ≠ a²+b² — middle term 2ab must NOT be forgotten!
3️⃣ (a+b)² and (a−b)² differ only in the sign of 2ab
4️⃣ (a+b)(a−b) = a²−b² — middle terms cancel out!
5️⃣ There are always multiple ways to solve — all lead to the same answer!
📖 Brahmagupta (628 CE) — first explicit statement in Brahmasphutasiddhanta
✍️ Called it khanda-gunanam (multiplication by parts)
🔢 Sridharacharya (750 CE) • Bhaskaracharya (1150 CE)