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Number Properties

There are three basic number properties (or laws) that apply to arithmetic operations: Commutative Property, Associative Property and Distributive Property.

Commutative Property

An operation is commutative if a change in the order of the numbers does not change the results. This means the numbers can be swapped.

Numbers can be added in any order.

For example:	4 + 5 = 5 + 4
	x + y = y + x

Numbers can be multiplied in any order.

For example:	5 × 3 = 3 × 5
	a × b = b × a

Numbers that are subtracted are NOT commutative.

For example:	4 – 5 ≠ 5 – 4
	x – y ≠ y –x

Numbers that are divided are NOT commutative.

For example:	4 ÷ 5 ≠ 5 ÷ 4
	x ÷ y ≠ y ÷ x

Associative Property

An operation is associative if a change in grouping does not change the results. This means the parenthesis (or brackets) can be moved.

Numbers that are added can be grouped in any order.

For example:	(4 + 5) + 6 = 5 + (4 + 6)
	(x + y) + z = x + (y + z)

Numbers that are multiplied can be grouped in any order.

For example:	(4 × 5) × 6 = 5 × (4 × 6)
	(x × y) × z = x × (y × z)

Numbers that are subtracted are NOT associative.

For example:	(4 – 5) – 6 ≠ 4 – (5– 6)
	(x – y) – z ≠ x – (y – z)

Numbers that are divided are NOT associative.

For example:	(4 ÷ 5) ÷ 6 ≠ 4 ÷ (5÷ 6)
	(x ÷ y ) ÷ z ≠ x ÷ ( y ÷ z)

Distributive Property

Distributive property allows you to remove the parenthesis (or brackets) in an expression. Multiply the value outside the brackets with each of the terms in the brackets.

For example:	4(a + b) = 4a + 4b
	7(2c – 3d + 5) = 14c – 21d + 35

What happens if you need to multiply (a – 3)(b + 4)?

You do the same thing but with one value at a time.

For example:

Multiply a with each term to get a × b + 4 × a = ab + 4a

Then, multiply 3 with each term to get “ –3b – 12” (take note of the sign operations).

Put the two results together to get “ab + 4a – 3b – 12”

Therefore, (a – 3)(b + 4) = ab + 4a – 3b – 12

Summary of Number Properties

The following table summarizes which number properties are applicable to the different operations:

Number Properties	×	÷	+	–
Commutative	Yes	No	Yes	No
Associative	Yes	No	Yes	No
Distributive	Yes	No	No	No

The following video shows more examples of the distributive property.

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