Definition

The quality or property of being able to distribute or spread out over a range or set of items.

Example

In mathematics, the distributivity property allows us to multiply a number by a sum by multiplying each addend separately and then adding the results.

Conversation

Have you ever heard of the concept of distributivity in math?

Yeah, I remember it from algebra class!

It's interesting how distributivity helps simplify expressions, right?

Absolutely! It makes solving problems so much easier.

Synonyms & Antonyms

Root Explanation

Distributivity → It is formed from "dis-" (meaning apart) and "tributio" (from Latin "tribuere", meaning to assign or distribute) and the suffix "-ity" (meaning the state or quality of). The word refers to the quality of being able to distribute or assign things apart from one another.

Memory Tip

Think of 'assigning' ('tributio') things 'apart' ('dis-') — that's what distributivity means, the quality of being able to distribute.

Visually Confused Words