The equivalent expression after factoring 20a + 28b = ( a + 7b) using the distributive property is 19a + 21b = 0.
According to the distributive property, an expression in the form A (B + C) can be solved as A (B + C) = AB + AC. This distributive law applies to subtraction as well and is written as A (B - C) = AB - AC. This means that operand A is shared by the other two operands.
The given equation is 20a + 28b = ( a + 7b).
20a + 28b = ( a + 7b).
Now, subtract both sides by a.
20a - a + 28b = a + 7b - a.
19a + 28b = 7b.
Now, subtracting both sides by 7b.
19a + 28b - 7b = 7b - 7b.
19a + 21b = 0.
Therefore, the equivalent expression to 20a + 28b = ( a + 7b) is 19a + 21b = 0.
