Math - Number Properties

Number properties refer to rules that you can apply to real numbers in mathematical operations.


Commutative Property

commutative property addition visual demonstration
commutative property multiplication visual demonstration

a+b=b+aa+b=b+a
ab=baa*b=b*a

The commutative property applies in:


Associative Property

associative property addition visual demonstration
associative property multiplication visual demonstration

(a+b)+c=(a+c)+b(a+b)+c=(a+c)+b
(ab)c=(ac)b(a*b)*c=(a*c)*b

The associative property applies in:


Distributive Property

distributive property visual demonstration

a(b+c)=(ab)+(ac)a(b+c)=(a*b)+(a*c)

The distributive property connects addition/subtraction and multiplication by “distributing” multiplication over terms inside parentheses.

Examples