Simone applied the distributive property using the greatest common factor to determine the expression that is equivalent to 24 + 56. Her work is shown below.

Question

Factors of 24: 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 8, 12, 24
Factors of 56: 1, 2, 4, 7, 8, 14, 28, 56
24 + 56 = 8(4 + 7)
What statement best describes Simone's error?
(1 point)
• Simone did not use the correct operations in the equation.
• Simone did not use the greatest common factor in the equation.
• Simone did not use the correct factors for 24 in the equation.
• Simone did not use the correct factors for 56 in the equation.

Answer 1

The best statement that describes Simone's error is:

• Simone did not use the correct operations in the equation.

While she correctly identified 8 as a common factor of both 24 and 56, the expression \( 8(4 + 7) \) is not equivalent to \( 24 + 56 \). Instead, she should properly factor both numbers and represent their sum as a product accordingly. The correct expression using the distributive property should result in a different equation.