<p>In the next few lessons, we will take a look at the properties of real numbers. Many of these properties will describe things you already know, but it will help to give names to the properties and define them formally. This way we’ll be able to refer to them and use them as we solve equations in the next tutorial.</p>
<h2>Use the Commutative and Associative Properties</h2>
<p>Think about adding two numbers, such as \(5\) and \(3.\)</p>
<div data-label="">\[\begin{array}{cccc}\hfill 5+3\hfill &amp; &amp; &amp; \hfill 3+5\hfill \\ \hfill 8\hfill &amp; &amp; &amp; \hfill 8\hfill \end{array}\]</div>
<p>\[\text{The results are the same. } 5+3=3+5\]</p>
<p>Notice, the order in which we add does not matter. The same is true when multiplying \(5\) and \(3.\)</p>
<div data-label="">\[\begin{array}{cccc}\hfill 5·3\hfill &amp; &amp; &amp; \hfill 3·5\hfill \\ \hfill 15\hfill &amp; &amp; &amp; \hfill 15\hfill \end{array}\]</div>
<p>Again, the results are the same! \(5·3=3·5.\) The order in which we multiply does not matter.</p>
<p>These examples illustrate the commutative properties of addition and multiplication.</p>
<div class="ns-tutorial">
<div class="ns-school-defn2">
<h3>Definition: Commutative Properties</h3>
<p><strong>Commutative Property of Addition</strong>: if \(a\) and \(b\) are real numbers, then</p>
<div data-label="">\(a+b=b+a\)</div>
<p><strong>Commutative Property of Multiplication</strong>: if \(a\) and \(b\) are real numbers, then</p>
<div data-label="">\(a·b=b·a\)</div>
</div>
</div>
<p>The commutative properties have to do with order. If you change the order of the numbers when adding or multiplying, the result is the same.</p>
<div class="ns-school-emp">
<h2>Example</h2>
<div class="ns-school-defn">
<div data-type="example">
<div>
<div>
<p>Use the commutative properties to rewrite the following expressions:</p>
<p>\(\phantom{\rule{0.2em}{0ex}}-1+3=\_\_\_\_\_\)</p>
<p>\(\phantom{\rule{0.2em}{0ex}}4·9=\_\_\_\_\_\)</p>
</div>
<div>
<h3>Solution</h3>
<table data-label="" summary=".">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td> </td>
<td> </td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td> </td>
<td>\(-1+3=\_\_\_\_\_\)</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Use the commutative property of addition to change the order.</td>
<td>\(-1+3=3+\left(-1\right)\)</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<table data-label="" summary=".">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td> </td>
<td> </td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td> </td>
<td>\(4·9=\_\_\_\_\_\)</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Use the commutative property of multiplication to change the order.</td>
<td>\(4·9=9·4\)</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
<p>What about subtraction? Does order matter when we subtract numbers? Does \(7-3\) give the same result as \(3-7?\)</p>
<div data-label="">\[\begin{array}{ccc}\hfill 7-3\hfill &amp; &amp; \hfill 3-7\hfill \\ \hfill 4\hfill &amp; &amp; \hfill -4\hfill \\ &amp; \hfill 4\ne -4\hfill &amp; \end{array}\]</div>
<div data-label="">\[\text{The results are not the same.}\phantom{\rule{0.2em}{0ex}}7-3\ne 3-7\]</div>
<p>Since changing the order of the subtraction did not give the same result, we can say that subtraction is not commutative.</p>
<p>Let’s see what happens when we divide two numbers. Is division commutative?</p>
<div data-label="">\[\begin{array}{ccc}\hfill 12÷4\hfill &amp; &amp; \hfill 4÷12\hfill \\ \hfill \frac{12}{4}\hfill &amp; &amp; \hfill \frac{4}{12}\hfill \\ \hfill 3\hfill &amp; &amp; \hfill \frac{1}{3}\hfill \\ &amp; \hfill 3\ne \frac{1}{3}\hfill &amp; \end{array}\]</div>
<div data-label="">\[\text{The results are not the same. So}\phantom{\rule{0.2em}{0ex}}12÷4\ne 4÷12\]</div>
<p>Since changing the order of the division did not give the same result, division is not commutative.</p>
<p>Addition and multiplication are commutative. Subtraction and division are not commutative.</p>
<p>Suppose you were asked to simplify this expression.</p>
<div data-label="">\(7+8+2\)</div>
<p>How would you do it and what would your answer be?</p>
<p>Some people would think \(7+8\phantom{\rule{0.2em}{0ex}}\text{is}\phantom{\rule{0.2em}{0ex}}15\) and then \(15+2\phantom{\rule{0.2em}{0ex}}\text{is}\phantom{\rule{0.2em}{0ex}}17.\) Others might start with \(8+2\phantom{\rule{0.2em}{0ex}}\text{makes}\phantom{\rule{0.2em}{0ex}}10\) and then \(7+10\phantom{\rule{0.2em}{0ex}}\text{makes}\phantom{\rule{0.2em}{0ex}}17.\)</p>
<p>Both ways give the same result, as shown in the figure below. (Remember that parentheses are grouping symbols that indicate which operations should be done first.)</p>
<p><img alt="The image shows an equation. The left side of the equation shows the quantity 7 plus 8 in parentheses plus 2. The right side of the equation show 7 plus the quantity 8 plus 2. Each side of the equation is boxed separately in red. Each box has an arrow pointing from the box to the number 17 below." src="https://data.ulearngo.com/assets/57224f04-55c3-4d1e-981e-3af7deb3cb7a"/></p>
<p>When adding three numbers, changing the grouping of the numbers does not change the result. This is known as the Associative Property of Addition.</p>
<p>The same principle holds true for multiplication as well. Suppose we want to find the value of the following expression:</p>
<div data-label="">\(5·\frac{1}{3}·3\)</div>
<p>Changing the grouping of the numbers gives the same result, as shown in the figure below.</p>
<p><img alt="The image shows an equation. The left side of the equation shows the quantity 5 times 1 third in parentheses times 3. The right side of the equation show 5 times the quantity 1 third times 3. Each side of the equation is boxed separately in red. Each box has an arrow pointing from the box to the number 5 below." src="https://data.ulearngo.com/assets/2b857756-61ef-40ea-8027-5cb4c7317fb4"/></p>
<p>When multiplying three numbers, changing the grouping of the numbers does not change the result. This is known as the Associative Property of Multiplication.</p>
<p>If we multiply three numbers, changing the grouping does not affect the product.</p>
<p>You probably know this, but the terminology may be new to you. These examples illustrate the <em>Associative Properties</em>.</p>
<div class="ns-tutorial">
<div class="ns-school-defn2">
<h3>Definition: Associative Properties</h3>
<p><strong>Associative Property of Addition</strong>: if \(a,b,\) and \(c\) are real numbers, then</p>
<div data-label="">\(\left(a+b\right)+c=a+\left(b+c\right)\)</div>
<p><strong>Associative Property of Multiplication</strong>: if \(a,b,\) and \(c\) are real numbers, then</p>
<div data-label="">\(\left(a·b\right)·c=a·\left(b·c\right)\)</div>
</div>
</div>
<div class="ns-school-emp">
<h2>Example</h2>
<div class="ns-school-defn">
<div data-type="example">
<div>
<div>
<p>Use the associative properties to rewrite the following:</p>
<p>\(\phantom{\rule{0.2em}{0ex}}\left(3+0.6\right)+0.4=\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\)</p>
<p>\(\phantom{\rule{0.2em}{0ex}}\left(-4·\frac{2}{5}\right)·15=\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\)</p>
</div>
<div>
<h3>Solution</h3>
<table data-label="" summary=".">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td> </td>
<td> </td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td> </td>
<td>\(\left(3+0.6\right)+0.4=\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\)</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Change the grouping.</td>
<td>\(\left(3+0.6\right)+0.4=3+\left(0.6+0.4\right)\)</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<p>Notice that \(0.6+0.4\) is \(1,\) so the addition will be easier if we group as shown on the right.</p>
<table data-label="" summary=".">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td> </td>
<td> </td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td> </td>
<td>\(\left(-4·\frac{2}{5}\right)·15=\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\)</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Change the grouping.</td>
<td>\(\left(-4·\frac{2}{5}\right)·15=-4·\left(\frac{2}{5}·15\right)\)</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<p>Notice that \(\frac{2}{5}·15\) is \(6.\) The multiplication will be easier if we group as shown on the right.</p>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
<p>Besides using the associative properties to make calculations easier, we will often use it to simplify expressions with variables.</p>
<div class="ns-school-emp">
<h2>Example</h2>
<div class="ns-school-defn">
<div data-type="example">
<div>
<div>
<p>Use the Associative Property of Multiplication to simplify: \(6\left(3x\right).\)</p>
</div>
<div>
<h3>Solution</h3>
<table data-label="" summary=".">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td> </td>
<td>\(6\left(3x\right)\)</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Change the grouping.</td>
<td>\(\left(6·3\right)x\)</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Multiply in the parentheses.</td>
<td>\(18x\)</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<p>Notice that we can multiply \(6·3,\) but we could not multiply \(3·x\) without having a value for \(x.\)</p>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>

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Use the Commutative and Associative Properties

Mathematics studies measurement, relationships, and properties of quantities and sets, using numbers and symbols. Arithmetic, algebra, geometry, and calculus are popular topics in mathematics.

Mathematics

Learn about the properties of real numbers including rational and irrational numbers, classifying real numbers, using the commutative, associative, distributive, identity, inverse, and zero properties in simplifying and evaluating expressions, and converting between different units of measurement and temperature scales.


Use the Commutative and Associative Properties

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