The NCERT Solutions Class 7 Maths Chapter 2: Arithmetic Expressions (Ganita Prakash), specifically Exercise 2.4, focuses on strengthening your understanding of the Distributive Property for integers and evaluating complex expressions through reasoning.
In this exercise, you will apply the Distributive Property for multiplication over both addition and subtraction, which is fundamental to all algebra that you will study in the future. And you will also start to think more deeply, not through calculation, about how to compare the value of two expressions based on specific alterations (such as adding brackets to change the order in which to evaluate the expressions).
Learn to master applying the Distributive Property and comparing the values of expressions with our comprehensive, step-by-step NCERT Solutions for Class 7 Maths Chapter 2 Exercise 2.4. To prepare for your exam or as a quick review for conceptual understanding, feel free to download the free PDF below.
a×(b+c)=(a×b)+(a×c)
a×(b-c)=(a×b)-(a×c)
1. Fill in the blanks with numbers, and boxes by signs, so that the expressions on both sides are equal.
(a) 3×(6+7)=3×6+3×7
(b) (8+3)×4=8×4+3×4
(c) 3×(5+8)=3×5 □ 3× ____
(d) (9+2)×4=9×4 □ 2× ____
(e) 3×(++4)=3 ____ + ____
(f) (_+6)×4 =13×4+ ____
(g) 3× ____ + ____ =3×5+3×2
(h) (…+…)× ____ =2×4+3×4
(i) 5×(9−2)=5×9−5× ____
(j) (5−2)×7=5×7−2× ____
(k) 5×(8−3)=5×8 □ 5× ____
(l) (8−3)×7=8×7 □ 3×7
(m) 5×(12 ____ ) = ____ 5× ____
(n) (15− ____ ) ×7= ____ 6×7
(o) 5× ____ - ____ =5×9−5×4
(p) (__ ____ ) × ____ =17×7−9×7
Sol. (a) 3×(6+7)=3×6+3×7
(b) (8+3)×4=8×4+3×4
(c) 3×(5+8)=3×5+3×8
(d) (9+2)×4=9×4+2×4
(e) 3×(10+4)=30+12
(f) (13+6)×4=13×4+24
(g) 3×(5+2)=3×5+3×2
(h) (2+3)×4=2×4+3×4
(i) 5×(9−2)=5×9−5×2
(j) (5−2)×7=5×7−2×7
(k) 5×(8−3)=5×8−5×3
(l) (8−3)×7=8×7−3×7
(m) 5×(12−3)=60−5×3
(n) (15−6)×7=105−6×7
(o) 5×(9−4)=5×9−5×4
(p) (17−9)×7=17×7−9×7
2. In the boxes below, fill '<', '>' or '=' after analysing the expressions on the LHS and RHS. Use reasoning and understanding of terms and brackets to figure this out and not by evaluating the expressions.
(a) (8−3)×29 □ (3−8)×29
(b) 15+9×18 □ (15+9)×18
(c) 23×(17−9) □ 23×17+23×9
(d) (34−28)×42 □ 34×42−28×42
Sol. (a) (8−3)×29>(3−8)×29
Because, (3−8)×29=−(8−3)×29
⇒(8−3)×29>(3−8)×29
(b) 15+9×18<(15+9)×18
Because, (15+9)×18=15×18+9× 18 and 15×18>15
So, 15+9×18<(15+9)×18
(c) 23×(17−9)<23×17+23×9
Because, 23×(17−9)=23×17−23×9
Clearly, 23×17>23×17−23×9
⇒23×(17−9)<23×17+23×9
(d) (34−28)×42=34×42−28×42
3. Here is one way to make 14 :
2×(1+6)=14.
Are there other ways of getting 14? Fill them out below:
(a) ____ × ____ + ____ ) = 14
(b) ____ × ____ + ____ ) = 14
(c) ____ ×( ____ + ____ ) = 14
(d) ____ × ____ + ____ ) = 14
Sol. (a) 2×(5+2)=14
(b) 2×(3+4)=14
(c) 2×(4+3)=14
(d) 2×(6+1)=14
4. Find out the sum of the numbers given in each picture below in at least two different ways. Describe how you solved it through expressions.
(II)
Sol. For I: 5×4+4×8=20+32=52
or 4×(4+8)+4=4×12+4=52
For II: 8×(5+6)=8×11=88
or 8×5+8×6=40+48=88
(Session 2026 - 27)