1. **State the problem:** Simplify the expression $2(q + 6)$ using the distributive property. 2. **Formula used:** The distributive property states that $a(b + c) = ab + ac$. 3. **Apply the distributive property:** $$2(q + 6) = 2 \cdot q + 2 \cdot 6$$ 4. **Multiply:** $$2 \cdot q = 2q$$ $$2 \cdot 6 = 12$$ 5. **Write the simplified expression:** $$2q + 12$$ **Final answer:** $2q + 12$