Question

Calvin evaluated Negative two-thirds times 5 and one-sixth using the steps below.

Step 1: Negative two-thirds time (5 + one-sixth)
Step 2: (Negative two-thirds + 5) times (Negative two-thirds + one-sixth)
Step 3: 4 and one-third times negative one-half
Step 4: Negative 2 and one-sixth

Which describes Calvin’s error?
In step 1, he incorrectly broke up 5 and one-sixth.
In step 2, he distributed the Negative two-thirds instead of the 5.
In step 2, he confused the multiplication and addition signs.
In step 3, he computed the addition and multiplication incorrectly.

Answer 1

In step 2, he confused the multiplication and addition signs.

He changed (-2/3)×(5 + 1/6) into (-2/3 + 5)×(-2/3 + 1/6), which is not a valid algebraic step. Steps 3 and 4 then follow correctly from that incorrect step.