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The distributive property of multiplication over addition is used in the preceding computation.

In the computation referenced, the distributive property of multiplication over addition is applied to simplify expressions by distributing a multiplication across an addition operation.

A) Commutative property of addition

The commutative property of addition states that changing the order of the addends does not change the sum. While this property is fundamental in arithmetic, it is not applicable in the context of the computation described, as it specifically involves multiplication interacting with addition.

B) Associative property of multiplication

The associative property of multiplication indicates that the way in which factors are grouped does not affect the product. This property is not relevant to the computation at hand, which focuses on how multiplication applies to the addition of terms rather than the grouping of multiplication.

C) Commutative property of multiplication

The commutative property of multiplication asserts that the order of factors does not change the product. Although this property is valid in multiplication, it does not address the relationship between multiplication and addition that is central to the computation in question.

D) Distributive property of multiplication over addition

The distributive property of multiplication over addition allows for multiplication to be distributed across terms in an addition. This property is directly applicable in the computation, as it enables the expression to be simplified by multiplying a single term by each addend.

Conclusion

The distributive property of multiplication over addition is the key property utilized in the computation, as it effectively links multiplication and addition in a way that facilitates simplification. All other options do not address the interaction between multiplication and addition, making them irrelevant to the context of the question. Thus, option D is clearly the correct choice.