1. The problem asks who is correct about the first step in multiplying the expressions $\frac{7}{12} \left( \frac{1}{6}x - \frac{1}{3} + \frac{3}{4}x - \frac{5}{12} \right)$. Juan says to use the Distributive Property first, Emily says to use the Commutative Property first. 2. The Distributive Property states $a(b+c) = ab + ac$, which is used to multiply a term outside the parentheses by each term inside. 3. The Commutative Property states $a+b = b+a$ or $ab = ba$, which allows rearranging terms but does not multiply. 4. To multiply the expression, the first step is to apply the Distributive Property to multiply $\frac{7}{12}$ by each term inside the parentheses. 5. The Commutative Property can be used to rearrange terms inside the parentheses if desired, but it is not the first step in multiplication. 6. Therefore, Juan is correct: the first step is to use the Distributive Property. Final answer: Juan is correct because multiplication requires distributing the outside term to each inside term first, not just rearranging terms.