The Commutative Properties deal with adding and multiplying when there are two terms.
Commutative Property of Addition:
a + b = b + a
Commutative Property of Multiplication:
a x b = b x a
Just switch the order of the terms that you are adding or multiplying.
Example math problems related to commutative properties:
- 3 + 4 = 4 + 3
- 7 = 7
- x + 10 = 10 + x
- 13 + y = y + 13
- 4(y) = (y)4
- 3(5) = (5)3
- 15 = 15
Note: Parentheses ( ) means to multiply.
It’s important to recognize that the Commutative Property works for adding and multiplying, but not for dividing and subtracting.