Real Number Properties

Real Numbers have properties!

Example: Multiplying by zero

When we multiply a real number by zero we get zero:

50=0

7 0 = 0

0 0.0001 = 0

etc!

It is called the "Zero Product Property", and is listed below.

Properties
Here are the main properties of the Real Numbers
Real Numbers are Commutative, Associative and Distributive :

Commutative

Example

a+b=b+a

2+6=6+2

ab = ba

42=24

Associative

Example

(a + b) + c = a + ( b + c )

(1 + 6) + 3 = 1 + (6 + 3)

(ab)c = a(bc)

(4 2) 5 = 4 (2 5)

Distributive

Example

a (b + c) = ab + ac

3 (6+2) = 3 6 + 3 2

(b+c) a = ba + ca

(6+2) 3 = 6 3 + 2 3

Real Numbers are closed (the result is also a real number) under addition and
multiplication:

Closure

Example

a+b is real

2 + 3 = 5 is real

ab is real

6 2 = 12 is real

Adding zero leaves the real number unchanged, likewise for multiplying by 1:

Identity

Example

a+0=a

6+0=6

a1=a

61=6

For addition the inverse of a real number is its negative, and for multiplication
the inverse is its reciprocal :

Additive Inverse
a + (a ) = 0

Multiplicative Inverse
a (1/a) = 1

Example
6 + (6) = 0
Example
6 (1/6) = 1

But not for 0 as 1/0 is undefined

Multiplying by zero gives zero (the Zero Product Property ):

Zero Product

Example

If ab = 0 then a=0 or b=0, or both

a0=0a=0

50=05=0

Multiplying two negatives make a positive , and multiplying a negative and a

positive makes a negative:

Negation

Example

1 (a) = (a) = a

1 (5) = (5) = 5

(a)(b) = ab

(3)(6) = 3 6 = 18

(a)(b) = (a)(b) = (ab)

3 6 = 3 6 = 18