What does the Distributive Property state?

The Distributive Property states that when you multiply a number by a sum, you can distribute the multiplication to each addend in the sum. This means that you can express the multiplication as the sum of two products. In the context of the correct answer, it illustrates this property clearly by showing how 1 multiplied by the sum of 2 and 3 can be distributed:

1(2 + 3) = (1•2) + (1•3).

This effectively demonstrates that multiplying 1 by the sum of 2 and 3 results in adding the product of 1 and 2 to the product of 1 and 3. Consequently, it highlights the essence of the Distributive Property, which is to separate the multiplication over the addition.

The other statements don't fully encapsulate the Distributive Property as intended. While they may reference multiplication and addition, only the correct choice properly illustrates the clear distribution of a multiplicative factor over a sum, defining the property's essence.