Properties of Real Numbers

Commutative
Associative
Distributive
Identity + ×
Inverse + ×
 Commutative Properties
Changing the order of the numbers in
addition or multiplication will not
change the result.
Commutative Property of Addition
states: 2 + 3 = 3 + 2 or a + b = b + a.
Commutative Property of
Multiplication states: 4 • 5 = 5 • 4 or
ab = ba.
 Associative Properties
Changing the grouping of the
numbers in addition or multiplication
will not change the result.
Associative Property of Addition
states: 3 + (4 + 5)= (3 + 4)+ 5 or
a + (b + c)= (a + b)+ c
Associative Property of Multiplication
states: (2 • 3) • 4 = 2 • (3 • 4) or
(ab)c = a(bc)
 Distributive Property
Multiplication distributes over addition.

a b  c   ab  ac

32  5  3  2  3  5
 Additive Identity Property
There exists a unique number 0 such
that zero preserves identities under
addition.

a + 0 = a and 0 + a = a
In other words adding zero to a
number does not change its value.
Multiplicative Identity Property
There exists a unique number 1 such
that the number 1 preserves identities
under multiplication.

a ∙ 1 = a and 1 ∙ a = a
In other words multiplying a number
by 1 does not change the value of the
number.
 Additive Inverse Property
For each real number a there
exists a unique real number –a
such that their sum is zero.

a + (-a) = 0
In other words opposites add to
zero.
Multiplicative Inverse Property

For each real number a there exists a

unique real number

1 such that their

product is 1.
a

1
a 1
a
Let’s play “Name that property!”
State the property or properties that
justify the following.

3+2=2+3

Commutative Property
State the property or properties that
justify the following.

10(1/10) = 1
Multiplicative Inverse Property
State the property or properties that
justify the following.

3(x – 10) = 3x – 30

Distributive Property
State the property or properties that
justify the following.

3 + (4 + 5) = (3 + 4) + 5
Associative Property
State the property or properties that
justify the following.

(5 + 2) + 9 = (2 + 5) + 9
Commutative Property
 3+7=7+3
Commutative
Property of Addition
 8+0=8
Identity Property of
Addition
 6•4=4•6
Commutative Property
of Multiplication
 17 + (-17) = 0
Inverse Property of
Addition
 2(5) = 5(2)
Commutative Property
of Multiplication
(2 + 1) + 4 = 2 + (1 + 4)
Associative Property
of Addition
3(2 + 5) = 3•2 + 3•5
Distributive Property
 6(7•8) = (6•7)8
Associative Property of
Multiplication
 5•1=5
Identity Property of
Multiplication
(6 – 3)4 = 6•4 – 3•4
Distributive Property
 1(-9) = -9
Identity Property of
Multiplication
 3 + (-3) = 0
Inverse Property of
Addition
1 + [-9 + 3]
= [1 + (-9)] + 3
Associative Property of
Addition
 -3(6) = 6(-3)
Commutative Property
of Multiplication
 -8 + 0 = -8
Identity Property of
Addition
3•7 – 3•4 = 3(7 – 4)
Distributive Property
6 + [(3 + (-2)]
= (6 + 3) + (- 2)
Associative Property
of Addition
 7 + (-5) = -5 + 7
Commutative
Property of Addition
(5 + 4)9 = 45 + 36
Distributive Property
 -3(5 • 4) = (-3 • 5)4
Associative Property of
Multiplication
 -8(4) = 4(-8)
Commutative Property
of Multiplication
 1
5/ + 0 = 1
5/
7 7

Identity Property of
Addition
 3/ – 6/ = – 6/ + 3/
4 7 7 4

Commutative Property
of Addition
 2
1/ • 1 = 2
1/
5 5

Identity Property of
Multiplication
-8 2/ + 0 = -8 2/
5 5

Identity Property of
Addition
 2
[(- / )(5)]9 = 2
-/ [(5)(9)]
3 3

Associative Property of
Multiplication
6(3 – 2n) = 18 – 12n
Distributive Property
 2x + 3 = 3 + 2x
Commutative Property
of Addition
 ab = ba
Commutative Property
of Multiplication
 a+0=a
Identity Property of
Addition
 a(bc) = (ab)c
Associative Property of
Multiplication
 a•1 = a
Identity Property of
Multiplication
 a +b = b + a
Commutative Property
of Addition
a(b + c) = ab + ac
Distributive Property
a + (b + c) = (a +b) + c
Associative Property of
Addition
 a + (-a) = 0
Inverse Property of
Addition
Properties of Real Numbers
Commutative
Associative
Distributive
Identity + ×
Inverse + ×