What is does the distributive property combine and to make multiplying whole numbers simpler?

The distributive property combines addition and multiplication, allowing you to break down larger numbers into smaller, more manageable parts. For example, instead of calculating (7 \times 26) directly, you can use (7 \times (20 + 6)) to simplify the process to (7 \times 20 + 7 \times 6), making the multiplication easier. This property helps in mental math and simplifies calculations, particularly with larger numbers.