How do you simplify an expression such as 2(3 + 5)?

To simplify the expression 2(3 + 5), you want to follow the order of operations, which states that you should perform calculations in parentheses first.

First, you evaluate what is inside the parentheses:

3 + 5 equals 8.

Next, you multiply the result by 2. So, it becomes 2 × 8, which is correct in acknowledging you need to perform that multiplication afterwards.

Thus, the process involved here is effectively using the distributive property, although the main focus here is simplifying the expression correctly by first doing the addition in parentheses before the multiplication.

This way of simplifying ensures that you follow proper mathematical conventions, leading to the ultimate calculation that accurately reflects the original expression.