DISTRIBUTIVE PROPERTY

Example 4. Now, one of the terms in the sum has a coefficient (the 2 in 2x):
6(2x + 3) = 6 · 2x + 6 · 3 = 12x + 18

3. Multiply using the distributive property.

a. 2(3x + 5) = b. 7(7a + 6) =

c. 5(4a + 8b) = d. 2(4x + 3y) =

e. 3(9 + 10z) = f. 6(3x + 4 + 2y) =

g. 11(2c + 7a) = h. 8(5 + 2a + 3b) =

To understand even better why the the distributive property works, let’s look at an area model
(this, too, you have seen before!).
The area of the whole rectangle is 5 times (b + 12).
But, if we think of it as two rectangles, the area of
the first rectangle is 5b, and of the second, 5 · 12.
Of course, these two expressions have to be equal:
5 · (b + 12) = 5b + 5 · 12 = 5b + 60

4. Write an expression for the area in two ways, thinking of one rectangle or two.

a. 9( _____ + _____ ) and b. s( _____ + _____ ) and

9 · _____ + 9 · _____ = s · _____ + s · _____ =

c. ____ ( _____ + _____ ) and d.

e. f.

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 5. Find the missing number or variable in these area models.

a. ____ (x + 2) = 3x + 6 b. _____ (t + 8) = 7t + 56

c. The total area is 9s + 54. d. 4( ____ + 5) = 4z + 20

e. 5(s + ____ ) = 5s + 30 f. The total area is 7y + 42.

6. Find the missing number in the equations.

a. ____ (x + 5) = 6x + 30 b. 10(y + ____ ) = 10y + 30

c. 6( ____ + z) = 12 + 6z d. 8(r + ____ ) = 8r + 24

7. Find the missing number in the equations. These are just a little bit trickier!

a. ____ (2x + 5) = 6x + 15 b. ____ (3w + 5) = 21w + 35

c. ____ (6y + 4) = 12y + 8 d. ____ (10s + 3) = 50s + 15

e. 2( _____ + 9) = 4x + 18 f. 4( ______ + 3) = 12x + 12

g. 5( _____ + 3) = 20y + 15 h. 8( ____ + ____ + 7) = 40t + 8s + 56

8. Write an expression for the perimeter of this regular heptagon, as a product.

Then, multiply the expression using the distributive property

9. The perimeter of a regular pentagon is 15x + 5. How long is one of its sides?

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 The Distributive Property
The distributive property states that a(b + c) = ab + ac
It may look like a meaningless or difficult equation to you now, but do not worry, it will become clearer!
The equation a(b + c) = ab + ac means that you can distribute the multiplication (by a) over the sum (b + c) so
that you multiply the numbers b and c separately by a, and lastly, add.
You have already used it! For example, think of 3 · 84 as 3 · (80 + 4). You can then multiply 80 and 4
separately by 3, and lastly, add: 3 · 80 + 3 · 4 = 240 + 12 = 252. We called this the partial products or
multiplying in parts.

Example 1. Using the distributive property, we can write the product 2(x + 1) as 2x + 2 · 1, which simplifies
to 2x + 2.
Notice what happens: Each term in the sum (x + 1) gets multiplied by the factor 2! Graphically:

Example 2. To multiply s · (3 + t) using the distributive property, we need to multiply both 3 and t by s:

, which simplifies to 3s + st.

1. Multiply using the distributive property.

a. 3(90 + 5) = 3 · ___ + 3 · ___ = b. 7(50 + 6) = 7 · ___ + 7 · ___ =

c. 4(a + b) = 4 · ___ + 4 · ___ = d. 2(x + 6) = 2 · ___ + 2 · ___ =

e. 7(y + 3) = f. 10(s + 4) =

g. s(6 + x) = h. x(y + 3) =

i. 8(5 + b) = j. 9(5 + c) =

Example 3. We can use the distributive property also when the sum has three or more terms.
Simply multiply each term in the sum by the factor in front of the parentheses:

= 5 · x + 5 · y + 5 · 6, which simplifies to 5x + 5y + 30

2. Multiply using the distributive property.

a. 3(a + b + 5) = b. 8(5 + y + r) =

c. 4(s + 5 + 8) = d. 3(10 + c + d + 2) =

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 When we use the distributive property “backwards”, and write a sum as a product, it is called factoring.

Example 5. The sum 5x + 5 can be written as 5(x + 1). We took the SUM 5x + 5 and wrote it as
a PRODUCT— something times something, in this case 5 times the quantity (x + 1).

Example 6. The sum 24x + 16 can be written as the product 8(3x + 2).
Notice that the numbers 24 and 16 are both divisible by 8! That is why we write 8 as one of the factors.

10. Think of the distributive property “backwards”, and factor these sums. Think of divisibility!

a. 6x + 6 = ____ (x + 1) b. 8y + 16 = 8( ____ + ____ )

c. 15x + 45 = ____ (x + ____ ) d. 4w + 40 = ____ (w + ____ )

e. 6x + 30 = ____ ( ____ + ____ ) f. 8x + 16y + 48 = ____ ( ____ + ____ + ____ )

11. Factor these sums (writing them as products). Think of divisibility!

a. 8x + 4 = ____ (2x + ____ ) b. 15x + 10 = ____ (3x + ____ )

c. 24y + 8 = ____ ( ____ + ____ ) d. 6x + 3 = ____ ( ____ + ____ )

e. 42y + 14 = ____ ( ____ + ____ ) f. 32x + 24 = ____ ( ____ + ____ )

g. 27y + 9 = ____ ( ____ + ____ ) h. 55x + 22 = ____ ( ____ + ____ )

i. 36y + 12 = ____ ( ____ + ____ ) j. 36x + 9z + 27 = ____ ( ____ + ____ + ____ )

12. The perimeter of a square is 48x + 16. How long is its side?

As a storekeeper, you need to purchase 1,000 items to get a wholesale

(cheaper) price of $8 per item, so you do. You figure you might sell 600
of them. You also want to advertise a $3 discount to your customers.
What should the non-discounted selling price be for you to actually earn
a $500 profit from the sale of these items?

Epilogue: It may be hard to see now where distributive property or factoring might be useful, but it IS extremely necessary
later in algebra, when solving equations.
To solve the problem above, you can figure it out without algebra, but it becomes fairly straightforward if we write an
equation for it. Let p be the non-discounted price. We get

600(p − $3) = 1,000 · $8 + $500

To solve this equation, one needs to use the distributive property in the very first step:
600p − $1800 = $8,500
600p = $10,300 (Can you solve this last step yourself?)

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 P.2
Exercises
VOCABULARY CHECK: Fill in the blanks.
1. The three components of a ________ are a set of numbers, operations with the set of numbers,
and properties of the numbers and operations.
2. The basic properties of a mathematical system are often called ________.
3. The formal argument that justifies a theorem is called a ________.

In Exercises 1–28, name the property of real numbers that 25. 3
6  b  3
63
b
justifies the statement. 26.
x  1 
x  1  0
1. 3 
5  5  3 2. 5
7  7
5 27. 3
2  x  3
2  3x
3. 25  25  0 4. 5  0  5 28.
6  x  m  6 
x  m
5. 6
10  10
6 6. 2
6
3 
2
63
In Exercises 29–38, use the property of real numbers to fill
1
7. 7
1  7 8. 4
41 in the missing part of the statement.

9. 25  35  35  25 29. Associative Property of Multiplication

10.
4
10
8  4
10
8 3
6y 

11. 3 
12  9 
3  12  9 30. Commutative Property of Addition
12.
16  8  5  16 
8  5 10 
6 

13.
8  5
10  8
10  5
10 31. Commutative Property of Multiplication
14. 7
9  15  7
9  7
15 15
3 

15.
10  8  3  10 
8  3 32. Associative Property of Addition
16.
5  10
8  8
5  10 6 
5  y 

33. Distributive Property
17. 5
2a 
5
2a 18. 10
2x 
10
2x
19. 1

5t  5t 20. 8y
1  8y
6  z5 

21. 3x  0  3x 22. 0  8w  8w 34. Distributive Property
1 1 3
4  x 

23.
y

y1 24. 10x

10x
1 35. Commutative Property of Addition
25 
x 

 Section P.2 Properties of Real Numbers 23

36. Additive Inverse Property In Exercises 71–74, identify the property of real numbers
13x  13x 
that justifies each step.
37. Multiplicative Identity Property 71. x53 Original equation

x  8
1 

x  5 
5  3 
5
38. Additive Identity Property x  5 
5  2
8x  0 
x  0  2
x  2
In Exercises 39–46, give (a) the additive inverse and (b) the
multiplicative inverse of the quantity.
72. x  8  20 Original equation

x  8  8  20  8
39. 10 40. 18
x 
8  8  28
41. 16 42. 52
x  0  28
43. 6z, z  0 44. 2y, y  0
x  28
45. x  1, x  1 46. y  4, y  4
73. 2x  5  6 Original equation

In Exercises 47–54, rewrite the expression using the
2x  5  5  6  5

Associative Property of Addition or the Associative Property 2x 
5  5  11
of Multiplication.
2x  0  11
47.
x  5  3 48.
z  6  10 2x  11
49. 32 
4  y 50. 15 
3  x 2
2x  2
11
1 1

51. 3
4
5 52.
10
8
5
12
2x  112

53. 6
2y 54. 8
3x 1
x  11 2
x  112
In Exercises 55–62, rewrite the expression using the
74. 3x  4  10 Original equation
Distributive Property.

3x  4 
4  10 
4
55. 20
2  5 56. 3
4  8
3x  4 
4  6
57. 5
3x  4 58. 6
2x  5
3x  0  6
59.
x  6
2 60.
z  10
12
3x  6
61. 6
2y  5 62. 4
10  b
3
3x  3
6
1 1

In Exercises 63–68, the right side of the equation is not
13
3x  2
equal to the left side. Change the right side so that it is 1
x2
equal to the left side.
x2
63. 3
x  5  3x  5
64. 4
x  2  4x  2 In Exercises 75–80, use the Distributive Property to perform
the arithmetic mentally. For example, you work in an indus-
65. 2
x  8  2x  16
try where the wage is $14 per hour with “time and a half ”
66. 9
x  4  9x  36 for overtime. So, your hourly wage for overtime is
67. 3
03   1
14
1.5  14
1  1

68. 6
0
1 2
6  14  7
 $21.
In Exercises 69 and 70, use the properties of real
numbers to prove the statement.
75. 16
1.75  16
2  14  76. 15
123   15
2  13 
69. If ac  bc and c  0, then a  b.
77. 7
62  7
60  2 78. 5
49  5
50  1
70.
1
a  a
 Section P.2 Properties of Real Numbers 21

Example 5
Proof of a Property of Negation

Prove that

1a  a.
(You may use any of the properties of equality and properties of zero.)
Solution
At first glance, it is a little difficult to see what you are being asked to prove.
However, a good way to start is to consider carefully the definitions of each of the
three numbers in the equation.
a  given real number
1  the additive inverse of 1
a  the additive inverse of a
By showing that
1a has the same properties as the additive inverse of a, you
will be showing that
1a must be the additive inverse of a.

1a  a 
1a 
1
a Multiplicative Identity Property

1  1a Distributive Property

0a Additive Inverse Property
0 Multiplication Property of Zero

Because you have shown that
1a  a  0, you can now use the fact that
a  a  0 to conclude that
1a  a  a  a. From this, you can
complete the proof as follows.

1a  a  a  a Shown in first part of proof

1a  a Cancellation Property of Addition

Now try Exercise 70.

The list of additional properties of real numbers forms a very important part
of algebra. Knowing the names of the properties is not especially important, but
knowing how to use each property is extremely important. The next two examples
show how several of the properties are used to solve common problems in algebra.

Example 6
Applying Properties of Real Numbers

In the solution of the equation b  2  6, identify the property of real numbers
that justifies each step.
Solution
b26 Original equation
Solution Step Property

b  2 
2  6 
2 Addition Property of Equality
b  2 
2  4 Associative Property of Addition
b04 Additive Inverse Property
b4 Additive Identity Property

Now try Exercise 71.

TYPE 1 NO NEED TO FIND LCM,IF ONE OF THE DENOMINATOR IS MULTIPLE OF ANOTHER DENOMINATOR.MULTIPLE IS THE LCM

2 7 ⃝ + 7 3 8 ⃝ + 8 7 4 ⃝ + 12
1. + = 2. + = 3. + =
5 10 10 4 12 12 15 5 15

2 7 ⃝ +7 3 7 9 + 7 1 3 ⃝ + 3
4. + = 5. + = 6. + =
9 18 18 20 60 ⃝ 10 20 20

4 7 ⃝ + ⃝ 3 9 ⃝ + 9 4 1 ⃝ + ⃝
7. + = 8. + = 9. + =
15 75 75 100 1000 1000 15 30 ⃝

3 7 ⃝ + ⃝ 8 ⃝ 24 + 1 𝑂 7 8 + 7
10. 10 + 50
= 50
11 . 15 + 45
= 𝑂
12. 15 + 60
= 60

5 7 −7 2 3 ⃝ + ⃝ 4 7 ⃝ + ⃝
13. + = 14 . + = 15. =
18 36 ⃝ 35 70 ⃝ 25 100 ⃝

TYPE 2 (BUTTER FLY METHOD ) IF DENOMINATORS ARE CO PRIMES THEN THE LCM OF DENOMINATORS IS JUST THEIR PRODUCT
2 3 14 + ⃝ 5 3 55 + ⃝ 3 2 ⃝ + 20
1. 5 + = 2.6 + = 3. 10 + =
7 35 11 66 13 130

5 2 𝑂 − 14 4 1 − 7 5 +
4. 7 + = 5. 35 + = 6. 8 + =
11 ⃝ 2 ⃝ 9 ⃝

TYPE 3 BY USING LCM

3 7 + ? 4 1 + ? 4 3 ? +
7. 8 + 10 = 8. 9 + = 9. 15 + =
40 6 ⃝ 20 60

7 3 + ? 9 3 +? 8 4 ? +
10. 16 + 20
= ⃝
11 . 18 + 10
= ⃝
12. 18 + 14
= ⃝

3 3 +? 7 5 +? 9 4 + ?
13. 10 + 15
= ⃝
14 . 20 + 16
= ⃝
15. 20 + 15
= 60

5 3 +? 4 7 + ? 3 5 ? +
16. + = 17 . + = 18. + =
14 18 ⃝ 15 18 ⃝ 14 16 ⃝

WRITE ANSWERS TYPE 1

TYPE 2

TYPE 3
16 Chapter P Prerequisites

P.2 Properties of Real Numbers

What you should learn:
• Identify and use the basic
Mathematical Systems
properties of real numbers In this section, you will review the properties of real numbers. These properties
• Develop and use additional make up the third component of what is called a mathematical system. These
properties of real numbers three components are a set of numbers, operations with the set of numbers, and
properties of the numbers (and operations).
Why you should learn it:
Figure P.8 is a diagram that represents different mathematical systems. Note
Understanding properties of real that the set of numbers for the system can vary. The set can consist of whole
numbers will help you to under- numbers, integers, rational numbers, real numbers, or algebraic expressions.
stand and use the properties of
algebra.
Whole Defined operation
numbers
Addition
Input set Multiplication
Subtraction
Division
Integers Exponentiation
Etc.

Rational Properties
numbers Commutative
Associative
Identity
Distributive
Real
Etc.
numbers

Algebraic
expressions Algorithms
Vertical multiplication
Long division
Etc.

Figure P.8

Basic Properties of Real Numbers

For the mathematical system that consists of the set of real numbers together with
the operations of addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division, the resulting
properties are called the properties of real numbers. In the list on page 17, a
verbal description of each property is given, as well as one or two examples.
18 Chapter P Prerequisites

Example 1
Identifying Properties of Real Numbers

Name the property of real numbers that justifies each statement. (Note: a and b
are real numbers.)
(a) 9
5  5
9
(b) 4
a  3  4
a  4
3
(c) 6
1
6 1
(d) 3 
2  b 
3  2  b
(e)
b  8  0  b  8

Solution
(a) This statement is justified by the Commutative Property of Multiplication.
(b) This statement is justified by the Distributive Property.
(c) This statement is justified by the Multiplicative Inverse Property.
(d) This statement is justified by the Associative Property of Addition.
(e) This statement is justified by the Additive Identity Property.
Now try Exercise 1.

Example 2
Identifying Properties of Real Numbers

The area of the rectangle in Figure P.9 can be represented in two ways: as the area
of a single rectangle, or as the sum of the areas of the two rectangles.
(a) Find this area in both ways.
(b) What property of real numbers does this demonstrate?
x 2 Solution
(a) The area of the single rectangle with width 3 and length x  2 is

3 A1 A2 A  3
x  2.
The areas of the two rectangles are
A1  3
x and A2  3
2.
Figure P.9 The sum of these two areas represents the area of the single rectangle. That is,
A  A1  A2
3
x  2  3
x  3
2
 3x  6.
(b) Because the area of the single rectangle and the sum of the areas of the two
rectangles are equal, you can write 3
x  2  3x  6. This demonstrates
the Distributive Property.
Now try Exercise 85.

To help you understand each property of real numbers, try stating the prop-
erties in your own words.
 Section P.2 Properties of Real Numbers 17

Properties of Real Numbers

Let a, b, and c represent real numbers.
Property
Closure Property of Addition
a  b is a real number.
Closure Property of Multiplication
ab is a real number.
Commutative Property of Addition
abba
Commutative Property of Multiplication
a
bb
a
Associative Property of Addition

a  b  c  a 
b  c
Verbal Description
The sum of two real numbers is a real number.
Example: 1  5  6, and 6 is a real number.
The product of two real numbers is a real number.
Example: 7
3  21, and 21 is a real number.
Two real numbers can be added in either order.
Example: 2  6  6  2
Two real numbers can be multiplied in either order.
Example: 3

5  5
3
When three real numbers are added, it makes no difference
which two are added first.
Example:
1  7  4  1 
7  4

Associative Property of Multiplication When three real numbers are multiplied, it makes no difference
which two are multiplied first.

abc  a
bc
Example:
4
3
9  4

3
9
Distributive Properties Multiplication distributes over addition.
a
b  c  ab  ac Examples: 2
3  4  2
32
4

a  bc  ac  bc
3  42  3
2  4
2
Additive Identity Property The sum of zero and a real number equals the number itself.
a00aa Example: 4  0  0  4  4
Multiplicative Identity Property The product of 1 and a real number equals the number itself.
a
11
aa Example: 5
11
55
Additive Inverse Property The sum of a real number and its opposite is zero.
a 
a  0 Example: 5 
5  0
Multiplicative Inverse Property The product of a nonzero real number and its reciprocal is 1.
1 1
a
a  1, a0 Example: 7
71

The operations of subtraction and division are not listed above because they fail
to possess many of the properties described in the list. For instance,
subtraction and division are not commutative. To see this, consider
4  3  3  4 and 15  5  5  15. Similarly, the examples 8 
6  2 

8  6  2 and 20 
4  2 
20  4  2 illustrate the fact that subtrac-
tion and division are not associative.
20 Chapter P Prerequisites

Additional Properties of Real Numbers

Let a, b, and c be real numbers.
Properties of Equality
Addition Property of Equality
If a  b, then a  c  b  c.
Multiplication Property of Equality
If a  b, then ac  bc, c  0.
Cancellation Property of Addition
If a  c  b  c, then a  b.
Cancellation Property of Multiplication
If ac  bc and c  0, then a  b.
Reflexive Property of Equality
aa
Symmetric Property of Equality
If a  b, then b  a.
Transitive Property of Equality
If a  b and b  c, then a  c.
Verbal Description
Adding a real number to each side of a true equation
produces another true equation.
Multiplying each side of a true equation by a nonzero
real number produces another true equation.
Subtracting a real number from each side of a true
equation produces another true equation.
Dividing each side of a true equation by a nonzero
real number produces another true equation.
A real number always equals itself.
If a real number equals a second real number, then
the second real number equals the first.
If a real number equals a second real number and the second real
number equals a third real number, then the first real number
equals the third real number.

Properties of Zero Verbal Description

Multiplication Property of Zero The product of zero and any real number is zero.
0
a0
Division Property of Zero If zero is divided by any nonzero real number, the result is zero.
0
 0, a  0
a
Division by Zero Is Undefined We do not define division by zero.
a
is undefined.
0
Properties of Negation Verbal Description
Multiplication by 1 The opposite of a real number a can be obtained by
multiplying the real number by 1.

1a  a

1
a  a
Placement of Negative Signs The opposite of the product of two numbers is equal to the
product of one of the numbers and the opposite of the other.

ab 
a
b 
a
b
Product of Two Opposites The product of the opposites of two real numbers is
equal to the product of the two real numbers.

a
b  ab

Study Tip
Notice in Example 4
how each step is justified from
the previous step by means of a
property of real numbers.
Section P.2 Properties of Real Numbers 19
Example 3
Using the Properties of Real Numbers
Complete each statement using the specified property of real numbers.
(a) Multiplicative Identity Property

4a1 

(b) Associative Property of Addition

a  9  1 

(c) Additive Inverse Property
0  5c 

(d) Distributive Property
4
b4
5

Solution
(a) By the Multiplicative Identity Property, you can write

4a1  4a.
(b) By the Associative Property of Addition, you can write

a  9  1  a 
9  1.
(c) By the Additive Inverse Property, you can write
0  5c 
5c.
(d) By the Distributive Property, you can write
4
b  4
5  4
b  5.
Now try Exercise 29.
Additional Properties of Real Numbers
Once you have determined the basic properties of a mathematical system (called
the axioms of the system), you can go on to develop other properties of the
system. These additional properties are often called theorems, and the formal
arguments that justify the theorems are called proofs. The list on page 20
summarizes several additional properties of real numbers.
Example 4
Proof of a Property of Equality
Prove that if a  c  b  c, then a  b. (Use the Addition Property of
Equality.)
Solution
acbc Write original equation.

a  c 
c 
b  c 
c Addition Property of Equality
a  c 
c  b  c 
c Associative Property of Addition
a0b0 Additive Inverse Property
ab Additive Identity Property
Now try Exercise 69.
22 Chapter P Prerequisites

Example 7
Applying the Properties of Real Numbers

In the solution of the equation 3a  9, identify the property of real numbers that
justifies each step.
Solution
3a  9 Original equation
Solution Step Property

13
3a  13
9 Multiplication Property of Equality

13
3
a  3 Associative Property of Multiplication

1
a)  3 Multiplicative Inverse Property

a3 Multiplicative Identity Property

Now try Exercise 73.

P.2
Exercises
VOCABULARY CHECK: Fill in the blanks.
1. The three components of a ________ are a set of numbers, operations with the set of numbers,
and properties of the numbers and operations.
2. The basic properties of a mathematical system are often called ________.
3. The formal argument that justifies a theorem is called a ________.

In Exercises 1–28, name the property of real numbers that 25. 3
6  b  3
63
b
justifies the statement. 26.
x  1 
x  1  0
1. 3 
5  5  3 2. 5
7  7
5 27. 3
2  x  3
2  3x
3. 25  25  0 4. 5  0  5 28.
6  x  m  6 
x  m
5. 6
10  10
6 6. 2
6
3 
2
63
In Exercises 29–38, use the property of real numbers to fill
1
7. 7
1  7 8. 4
41 in the missing part of the statement.

9. 25  35  35  25 29. Associative Property of Multiplication

10.
4
10
8  4
10
8 3
6y 

11. 3 
12  9 
3  12  9 30. Commutative Property of Addition
12.
16  8  5  16 
8  5 10 
6 

13.
8  5
10  8
10  5
10 31. Commutative Property of Multiplication
14. 7
9  15  7
9  7
15 15
3 

15.
10  8  3  10 
8  3 32. Associative Property of Addition
16.
5  10
8  8
5  10 6 
5  y 

33. Distributive Property
17. 5
2a 
5
2a 18. 10
2x 
10
2x
19. 1

5t  5t 20. 8y
1  8y
6  z5 

21. 3x  0  3x 22. 0  8w  8w 34. Distributive Property
1 1 3
4  x 

23.
y

y1 24. 10x

10x
1 35. Commutative Property of Addition
25 
x 

 Section P.2 Properties of Real Numbers 23

36. Additive Inverse Property In Exercises 71–74, identify the property of real numbers
13x  13x 
that justifies each step.
37. Multiplicative Identity Property 71. x53 Original equation

x  8
1 

x  5 
5  3 
5
38. Additive Identity Property x  5 
5  2
8x  0 
x  0  2
x  2
In Exercises 39–46, give (a) the additive inverse and (b) the
multiplicative inverse of the quantity.
72. x  8  20 Original equation

x  8  8  20  8
39. 10 40. 18
x 
8  8  28
41. 16 42. 52
x  0  28
43. 6z, z  0 44. 2y, y  0
x  28
45. x  1, x  1 46. y  4, y  4
73. 2x  5  6 Original equation

In Exercises 47–54, rewrite the expression using the
2x  5  5  6  5

Associative Property of Addition or the Associative Property 2x 
5  5  11
of Multiplication.
2x  0  11
47.
x  5  3 48.
z  6  10 2x  11
49. 32 
4  y 50. 15 
3  x 2
2x  2
11
1 1

51. 3
4
5 52.
10
8
5
12
2x  112

53. 6
2y 54. 8
3x 1
x  11 2
x  112
In Exercises 55–62, rewrite the expression using the
74. 3x  4  10 Original equation
Distributive Property.

3x  4 
4  10 
4
55. 20
2  5 56. 3
4  8
3x  4 
4  6
57. 5
3x  4 58. 6
2x  5
3x  0  6
59.
x  6
2 60.
z  10
12
3x  6
61. 6
2y  5 62. 4
10  b
3
3x  3
6
1 1

In Exercises 63–68, the right side of the equation is not
13
3x  2
equal to the left side. Change the right side so that it is 1
x2
equal to the left side.
x2
63. 3
x  5  3x  5
64. 4
x  2  4x  2 In Exercises 75–80, use the Distributive Property to perform
the arithmetic mentally. For example, you work in an indus-
65. 2
x  8  2x  16
try where the wage is $14 per hour with “time and a half ”
66. 9
x  4  9x  36 for overtime. So, your hourly wage for overtime is
67. 3
03   1
14
1.5  14
1  1

68. 6
0
1 2
6  14  7
 $21.
In Exercises 69 and 70, use the properties of real
numbers to prove the statement.
75. 16
1.75  16
2  14  76. 15
123   15
2  13 
69. If ac  bc and c  0, then a  b.
77. 7
62  7
60  2 78. 5
49  5
50  1
70.
1
a  a
24 Chapter P Prerequisites

79. 9
6.98  9
7  0.02 86. Geometry The figure shows two adjoining rectan-
80. 12
19.95  12
20  0.05 gles. Find the total area of the two rectangles in two
ways.
Number of Warehouses In Exercises 81–84, the number x 8
of Costco warehouses for the years 1997 through 2004 are
approximated by the expression
6
23.4t  89.
In this expression, t represents the year, with t
7 corre-
sponding to 1997 (see figure). (Source: Costco
Wholesale)
Synthesis
y
Number of warehouses

450 True or False? In Exercises 87–90, determine whether

the statement is true or false. Justify your answer.
400
350 87. 6x  6x  0
300 88. 9  5  5  9
250 89. 6
7  2  6
7  2
t 90. 4
8  1  4
8  4
1
7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14
Year (7 ↔ 1997) 91. Think About It Does every real number have a
multiplicative inverse? Explain.
81. Use the graph to approximate the number of
warehouses in 2000. 92. What is the additive inverse of a real number? Give
an example of the Additive Inverse Property.
82. Use the expression to approximate the annual
increase in the number of warehouses. 93. What is the multiplicative inverse of a real number?
Give an example of the Multiplicative Inverse
83. Use the expression to predict the number of
Property.
warehouses in 2007.
94. State the Multiplication Property of Zero.
84. In 2003, the actual number of warehouses was 397.
Compare this with the approximation given by the 95. Writing Explain how the Addition Property of
expression. Equality can be used to allow you to subtract the
same number from each side of an equation.
85. Geometry The figure shows two adjoining rectan-
gles. Find the total area of the rectangles in two 96. Investigation You define a new mathematical
ways. operation using the symbol . This operation is
defined as a  b  2
a  b.
x 3
(a) Is this operation commutative? Explain.
(b) Is this operation associative? Explain.
4
44 (1-44) Chapter 1
In this
section
● The Commutative
Properties
● The Associative Properties
● The Distributive Property
● The Identity Properties
● The Inverse Properties
● Multiplication Property
of Zero
● Applications
E X A M P L E
E X A M P L E
helpful hint
In arithmetic we would proba-
bly write (2  3)  7  12
without thinking about the
associative property. In alge-
bra, we need the associative
property to understand that
(x  3)  7  x  (3  7)
 x  10.
Real Numbers and Their Properties
1.7 PROPERTIES OF THE REAL NUMBERS
Everyone knows that the price of a hamburger plus the price of a Coke is the same
as the price of a Coke plus the price of a hamburger. But do you know that this ex-
ample illustrates the commutative property of addition? The properties of the real
numbers are commonly used by anyone who performs the operations of arithmetic.
In algebra we must have a thorough understanding of these properties.
The Commutative Properties
We get the same result whether we evaluate 3  5 or 5  3. This example illus-
trates the commutative property of addition. The fact that 4  6 and 6  4 are equal
illustrates the commutative property of multiplication.
Commutative Properties
For any real numbers a and b,
abba and ab  ba.
1 The commutative property of addition
Use the commutative property of addition to rewrite each expression.
a) 2  (10) b) 8  x 2 c) 2y  4x
Solution
a) 2  (10)  10  2
b) 8  x 2  x 2  8
c) 2y  4x  2y  (4x)  4x  2y ■
2 The commutative property of multiplication
Use the commutative property of multiplication to rewrite each expression.
a) n  3 b) (x  2)  3 c) 5  yx
Solution
a) n  3  3  n  3n b) (x  2)  3  3(x  2)
c) 5  yx  5  xy ■
Addition and multiplication are commutative operations, but what about sub-
traction and division? Since 5  3  2 and 3  5  2, subtraction is not com-
mutative. To see that division is not commutative, try dividing $8 among 4 people
and $4 among 8 people.
The Associative Properties
Consider the computation of 2  3  6. Using the order of operations, we add 2
and 3 to get 5 and then add 5 and 6 to get 11. If we add 3 and 6 first to get 9 and then
add 2 and 9, we also get 11. So
(2  3)  6  2  (3  6).
 1.7 Properties of the Real Numbers (1-45) 45

We get the same result for either order of addition. This property is called the asso-
ciative property of addition. The commutative and associative properties of addi-
tion are the reason that a hamburger, a Coke, and French fries cost the same as
French fries, a hamburger, and a Coke.
We also have an associative property of multiplication. Consider the follow-
ing two ways to find the product of 2, 3, and 4:
(2  3)4  6  4  24
2(3  4)  2  12  24
We get the same result for either arrangement.

Associative Properties
For any real numbers a, b, and c,
(a  b)  c  a  (b  c) and (ab)c  a(bc).

E X A M P L E 3 Using the properties of multiplication

Use the commutative and associative properties of multiplication and exponential
notation to rewrite each product.
a) (3x)(x) b) (xy)(5yx)
Solution
a) (3x)(x)  3(x  x)  3x 2
b) The commutative and associative properties of multiplication allow us to
rearrange the multiplication in any order. We generally write numbers before
variables, and we usually write variables in alphabetical order:
(xy)(5yx)  5xxyy  5x 2y 2 ■

Consider the expression

3  9  7  5  8  4  13.
According to the accepted order of operations, we could evaluate this by computing
from left to right. However, using the definition of subtraction, we can rewrite this
expression as addition:
3  (9)  7  (5)  (8)  4  (13)
The commutative and associative properties of addition allow us to add these num-
bers in any order we choose. It is usually faster to add the positive numbers, add the
negative numbers, and then combine those two totals:
3  7  4  (9)  (5)  (8)  (13)  14  (35)  21
Note that by performing the operations in this manner, we must subtract only once.
There is no need to rewrite this expression as we have done here. We can sum the
positive numbers and the negative numbers from the original expression and then
combine their totals.

E X A M P L E 4 Using the properties of addition

Evaluate.
a) 3  7  9  5 b) 4  5  9  6  2  4  8
46 (1-46) Chapter 1 Real Numbers and Their Properties

Solution
a) First add the positive numbers and the negative numbers:
3  7  9  5  12  (12)
0
b) 4  5  9  6  2  4  8  14  (24)
 10 ■

It is certainly not essential that we evaluate the expressions of Example 4 as

shown. We get the same answer by adding and subtracting from left to right. How-
ever, in algebra, just getting the answer is not always the most important point.
Learning new methods often increases understanding.
Even though addition is associative, subtraction is not an associative operation.
For example, (8  4)  3  1 and 8  (4  3)  7. So
(8  4)  3  8  (4  3).
We can also use a numerical example to show that division is not associative. For
instance, (16  4)  2  2 and 16  (4  2)  8. So
(16  4)  2  16  (4  2).

The Distributive Property

helpful hint
If four men and five women pay $3 each for a movie, there are two ways to find the
To visualize the distributive total amount spent:
property, we can determine
the number of circles shown 3(4  5)  3  9  27
here in two ways: 3  4  3  5  12  15  27
ºººº ººººº
ºººº ººººº Since we get $27 either way, we can write
ºººº ººººº
There are 3  9 or 27 circles, or 3(4  5)  3  4  3  5.
there are 3  4 circles in the We say that the multiplication by 3 is distributed over the addition. This example
first group and 3  5 circles in illustrates the distributive property.
the second group for a total of
Consider the following expressions involving multiplication and subtraction:
27 circles.
5(6  4)  5  2  10
5  6  5  4  30  20  10
Since both expressions have the same value, we can write
5(6  4)  5  6  5  4.
Multiplication by 5 is distributed over each number in the parentheses. This exam-
ple illustrates that multiplication distributes over subtraction.

Distributive Property
For any real numbers a, b, and c,
a(b  c)  ab  ac and a(b  c)  ab  ac.

The distributive property is used in two ways. If we start with 4(x  3) and
write
4(x  3)  4x  4  3  4x  12,

E X A M P L E 8 Washing rates
helpful hint
When machines or people are
working together, we can add
their rates provided they do
not interfere with each other’s
work. If operating both car
wash machines causes a traffic
jam, then the rate together
might not be 22.5 cars per
hour.
WARM-UPS
1.7 Properties of the Real Numbers (1-49) 49
e) 3x  5x  (3  5)x f) 6  (x  5)  6  (5  x)
g) x 2  y 2  (x 2  y 2) h) 325  0  325
i) 3  3  0 j) 455  0  0
Solution
a) Commutative b) Multiplicative inverse
c) Multiplicative identity d) Associative
e) Distributive f) Commutative
g) Distributive h) Additive identity
i) Additive inverse j) Multiplication property of 0 ■
Applications
Reciprocals are important in problems involving work. For example, if you wax one
car in 3 hours, then your rate is 1 of a car per hour. If you can wash one car in
3
12 minutes 1 of an hour, then you are washing cars at the rate of 5 cars per hour.
5
In general, if you can complete a task in x hours, then your rate is 1 tasks per hour.
x
A car wash has two machines. The old machine washes one car in 0.1 hour, while
the new machine washes one car in 0.08 hour. If both machines are operating, then
at what rate (in cars per hour) are the cars being washed?
Solution
The old machine is working at the rate of 1 cars per hour, and the new machine is
0.1
working at the rate of 1 cars per hour. Their rate working together is the sum of
0.08
their individual rates:
1 1
    10  12.5  22.5
0.1 0.08
So working together, the machines are washing 22.5 cars per hour. ■
True or false? Explain your answer.
1. 24  (4  2)  (24  4)  2 False
2. 1  2  2  1 False
3. 6  5  5  6 True
4. 9  (4  3)  (9  4)  3 False
5. Multiplication is a commutative operation. True
6. 5x  5  5(x  1) for any value of x. True
7. The multiplicative inverse of 0.02 is 50. True
8. 3(x  2)  3x  6 for any value of x. True
9. 3x  2x  (3  2)x for any value of x. True
10. The additive inverse of 0 is 0. True
 Name : Score :
Teacher : Date :

Working with the Properties of Mathematics

11 ) Which is an example of Identity Property of Addition ?
A. 2 + 9 = 9 + 2 B. 3 x 1 = 3 ______
C. (9 + 7) + 6 = 9 + (7 + 6) D. 5 + 0 = 5

12 ) Which property is used in the following expression ? 9(3 + 5) = 27 + 45

A. Distributive Property B. Associative Property of Addition ______
C. Associative Property of Multiplication D. Commutative Property of Addition

13 ) Which Property of Multiplication is shown ? (8 + 4) x 2 = 8 x 2 + 4 x 2

A. Associative Property B. Distributive Property ______
C. Commutative Property D. Identity Property

14 ) Which property is used in the following ? 7 x (3 + 9) = 7 x 3 + 7 x 9

A. Distributive Property B. Commutative Property ______
C. None of the above D. Associative Property

15 ) Which operation will not change the value of any nonzero number ?
A. Multiplying by One B. Dividing by Zero ______
C. Adding One D. Multiplying by Zero

16 ) Which property would you use to simplify the following expression ? 8(y + 7)
A. Associative Property B. Distributive Property ______
C. Commutative Property D. Multiplication Property of Zero

17 ) Which of the following does not show the Commutative Property ?

A. 4 + y = y + 4 B. x + y = y + x ______
C. xy - 3 = xy D. yx = xy

Math-Aids.Com
48 (1-48) Chapter 1 Real Numbers and Their Properties

We are already familiar with multiplicative inverses for rational numbers. For
example, the multiplicative inverse of 2 is 3 because
3 2
2 3 6
      1.
3 2 6

E X A M P L E 6 Multiplicative inverses
Find the multiplicative inverse of each number.
3
a) 5 b) 0.3 c)  d) 1.7
4
Solution
a) The multiplicative inverse of 5 is 1 because
calculator 5
1
5    1.
5
close-up b) To find the reciprocal of 0.3, we first write 0.3 as a ratio of integers:
3
You can find multiplicative in- 0.3  
verses with a calculator as 10
shown here. The multiplicative inverse of 0.3 is 10 because
3
3 10
    1.
10 3
c) The reciprocal of 3 is 4 because
4 3

43  1.
3 4

When the divisor is a fraction, d) First convert 1.7 to a ratio of integers:

it must be in parentheses.
7 17
1.7  1  
10 10
The multiplicative inverse is 10.
17 ■
Multiplication Property of Zero
Zero has a property that no other number has. Multiplication involving zero always
results in zero.

Multiplication Property of Zero

For any real number a,
0a0 and a  0  0.

E X A M P L E 7 Identifying the properties

Name the property that justifies each equation.
1
a) 5  7  7  5 b) 4    1
4
c) 1  864  864 d) 6  (5  x)  (6  5)  x

E X A M P L E 5 Using the distributive property
study tip
Don’t cram for a test. Some
students try to cram weeks of
work into one “all-nighter.”
These same students are seen
frantically paging through the
text up until the moment that
the test papers are handed
out. These practices create a
lot of test anxiety and will only
make you sick. Start studying
for a test several days in ad-
vance, and get a good night’s
sleep before a test. If you keep
up with homework, then there
will be no need to cram.
study tip
When you get a test back, do
not simply file it in your note-
book or the waste basket.
While the material is fresh in
your mind, rework all prob-
lems that you missed. Ask
questions about anything that
you don’t understand and
save your test for future refer-
ence.
1.7 Properties of the Real Numbers (1-47) 47
we are using it to multiply 4 and x  3 or to remove the parentheses. We wrote the
product 4(x  3) as the sum 4x  12. If we start with 3x  15 and write
3x  15  3x  3  5  3(x  5),
we are using it to write the sum 3x  15 as the product 3(x  5). When we write a
number or an expression as a product, we are factoring. In this case we factored out
the common factor 3.
Use the distributive property to rewrite each product as a sum or difference and each
sum or difference as a product.
a) 7x  21 b) a(3  b) c) 5a  5 d) 3(x  2)
Solution
a) 7x  21  7x  7  3 Write 21 as 7  3.
 7(x  3) Distributive property
b) a(3  b)  a3  ab Distributive property
 3a  ab a3  3a
c) 5a  5  5a  5  1 Write 5 as 5  1.
 5(a  1) Factor out the common factor 5.
d) 3(x  2)  3x  (3)(2) Distributive property
 3x  (6) (3)(2)  6
 3x  6 Simplify. ■
The Identity Properties
The numbers 0 and 1 have special properties. Multiplication of a number by 1 does
not change the number, and addition of 0 to a number does not change the num-
ber. That is why 1 is called the multiplicative identity and 0 is called the additive
identity.
Identity Properties
For any real number a,
a11aa and a  0  0  a  a.
The Inverse Properties
The idea of additive inverses was introduced in Section 1.3. Every real number a
has an additive inverse or opposite, a, such that a  (a)  0. Every nonzero
real number a also has a multiplicative inverse or reciprocal, written 1, such that
a
a  1  1. Note that the sum of additive inverses is the additive identity and that the
a
product of multiplicative inverses is the multiplicative identity.
Inverse Properties
For any real number a there is a number a, such that
a  (a)  0.
For any nonzero real number a there is a number 1 such that
a
1
a    1.
a
50 (1-50) Chapter 1 Real Numbers and Their Properties

1. 7 EXERCISES
Reading and Writing After reading this section write out the 29. 4  11  7  8  15  20 21
answers to these questions. Use complete sentences. 30. 8  13  9  15  7  22  5 29
1. What is the difference between the commutative property 31. 3.2  2.4  2.8  5.8  1.6 0.6
of addition and the associative property of addition? 32. 5.4  5.1  6.6  2.3  9.1 13.7
The commutative property says that a  b  b  a and
the associative property says that (a  b)  c  a  33. 3.26  13.41  5.1  12.35  5 22.4
(b  c).
34. 5.89  6.1  8.58  6.06  2.34 0.03
2. Which property involves two different operations?
Use the distributive property to rewrite each product as a sum
The distributive property involves multiplication and
or difference and each sum or difference as a product. See
addition.
Example 5.
3. What is factoring?
35. 3(x  5) 3x  15 36. 4(b  1) 4b  4
Factoring is the process of writing an expression or number
as a product. 37. 2m  12 2(m  6) 38. 3y  6 3(y  2)
4. Which two numbers play a prominent role in the properties 39. a(2  t) 2a  at 40. b(a  w) ab  bw
studied here? 41. 3(w  6) 3w  18 42. 3(m  5) 3m  15
The number 0 is the additive identity and the number 1 is 43. 4(5  y) 20  4y 44. 3(6  p) 18  3p
the multiplicative identity. 45. 4x  4 4(x  1) 46. 6y  6 6(y  1)
5. What is the purpose of studying the properties of real 47. 1(a  7) a  7 48. 1(c  8) c  8
numbers? 49. 1(t  4) t  4 50. 1(x  7) x  7
The properties help us to understand the operations and
51. 4y  16 4(y  4) 52. 5x  15 5(x  3)
how they are related to each other.
53. 4a  8 4(a  2) 54. 7a  35 7(a  5)
6. What is the relationship between rate and time?
If one task is completed in x hours, then the rate is 1x tasks Find the multiplicative inverse (reciprocal) of each number. See
per hour. Example 6.
1 1 1
Use the commutative property of addition to rewrite each 55.  2 56.  3 57. 5 
expression. See Example 1. 2 3 5
7. 9  r 8. t  6 9. 3(2  x) 1 1 1
58. 6  59. 7  60. 8 
r9 6t 3(x  2) 6 7 8
10. P(1  rt) 11. 4  5x 12. b  2a 61. 1 1 62. 1 1 63. 0.25 4
P(rt  1) 5x  4 2a  b 4 2 2
64. 0.75  65. 2.5  66. 3.5 
3 5 7
Use the commutative property of multiplication to rewrite each
Name the property that justifies each equation. See Example 7.
expression. See Example 2.
67. 3  x  x  3 Commutative property of multiplication
13. x  6 14. y  (9) 15. (x  4)(2)
6x 9y 2(x  4) 68. x  5  5  x Commutative property of addition
69. 2(x  3)  2x  6 Distributive property
16. a(b  c) 17. 4  y  8 18. z  9  2
(b  c)a 4  8y 9z  2 70. a(bc)  (ab)c Associative property of multiplication
71. 3(xy)  (3x)y Associative property of multiplication
Use the commutative and associative properties of multiplica-
tion and exponential notation to rewrite each product. See 72. 3(x  1)  3x  3 Distributive property
Example 3. 73. 4  (4)  0 Inverse properties
19. (4w)(w) 20. (y)(2y) 21. 3a(ba) 74. 1.3  9  9  1.3 Commutative property of addition
4w 2 2y 2 3a 2b 75. x 2  5  5x 2 Commutative property of multiplication
22. (x  x)(7x) 23. (x)(9x)(xz) 24. y( y  5)(wy) 76. 0    0 Multiplication property of 0
7x 3 9x 3z 5y 3w 77. 1  3y  3y Identity property
Evaluate by finding first the sum of the positive numbers and 78. (0.1)(10)  1 Inverse property
then the sum of the negative numbers. See Example 4. 79. 2a  5a  (2  5)a Distributive property
25. 8  4  3  10 3 80. 3  0  3 Identity property
26. 3  5  12  10 0 81. 7  7  0 Inverse property
27. 8  10  7  8  7 10 82. 1  b  b Identity property
28. 6  11  7  9  13  2 4 83. (2346)0  0 Multiplication property of 0
 1.7 Properties of the Real Numbers (1-51) 51

84. 4x  4  4(x  1) Distributive property 103. Population explosion. In 1998, the population of the
85. ay  y  y(a  1) Distributive property earth was increasing by one person every 0.3801 second
(World Population Data Sheet 1998, www.prb.org).
86. ab  bc  b(a  c) Distributive property
a) At what rate in people per second is the population of
Complete each equation, using the property named. the earth increasing?
87. a  y  ____, commutative ya 2.63 people/second
88. 6x  6  ____, distributive 6(x  1) b) At what rate in people per week is the population of
the earth increasing?
89. 5(aw)  ____, associative (5a)w 1,591,160 people/week
90. x  3  ____, commutative 3x 104. Farmland conversion. The amount of farmland in the
1 1 1 United States is decreasing by one acre every 0.00876
91. x    ____, distributive  (x
2
 1)
2 2 hours as farmland is being converted to nonfarm use
92. 3(x  7)  ____, distributive 3x  21 (American Farmland Trust, www.farmland.org). At what
rate in acres per day is the farmland decreasing?
93. 6x  15  ____, distributive 3(2x  5)
2740 acres/day
94. (x  6)  1  ____, associative x  (6  1)
95. 4(0.25)  ____, inverse property 1

Farmland (millions of acres)

1000
96. 1(5  y)  ____, distributive 5  y
97. 0  96(____), multiplication property of zero 0
98. 3  (____)  3, identity property 1 950
100
99. 0.33(____)  1, inverse property 
33
100. 8(1)  ____, identity property 8
900
Solve each problem. See Example 8. 1990 2000 2010
101. Laying bricks. A bricklayer lays one brick in 0.04 hour, Year
while his apprentice lays one brick in 0.05 hour. FIGURE FOR EXERCISE 104
a) If both are working, then at what combined rate (in
bricks per hour) are they laying bricks? GET TING MORE INVOLVED
45 bricks/hour
b) Which person is working faster? 105. Writing. The perimeter of a rectangle is the sum of twice
Bricklayer the length and twice the width. Write in words another
way to find the perimeter that illustrates the distributive
property.
The perimeter is twice the sum of the length and width.
200 106. Discussion. Eldrid bought a loaf of bread for $1.69 and
a gallon of milk for $2.29. Using a tax rate of 5%, he cor-
Number of bricks laid

150 Bricklayer rectly figured that the tax on the bread would be 8 cents
and the tax on the milk would be 11 cents, for a total of
100 $4.17. However, at the cash register he was correctly
Apprentice charged $4.18. How could this happen? Which property
50 of the real numbers is in question in this case?
Due to rounding off, the tax on each item seperately does
0
0 2 4 6 8 not equal the tax on the total. It looks like the distributive
Time (hours) property fails.
FIGURE FOR EXERCISE 101 107. Exploration. Determine whether each of the following
pairs of tasks are “commutative.” That is, does the order in
which they are performed produce the same result?
102. Recovering golf balls. Susan and Joan are diving for golf a) Put on your coat; put on your hat.
balls in a large water trap. Susan recovers a golf ball every Commutative
0.016 hour while Joan recovers a ball every 0.025 hour. If b) Put on your shirt; put on your coat.
both are working, then at what rate (in golf balls per hour) Not commutative
are they recovering golf balls? Find another pair of “commutative” tasks and another pair
102.5 balls/hour of “noncommutative” tasks.
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Working with the Properties of Mathematics

1 ) Which property is used in the following expression ? (a x b) x c = a x (b x c)
A. Associative Property of Addition B. Commutative Property of Addition ______
C. Associative Property of Multiplication D. Distributive Property

2 ) Which equation shows the Commutative Property of Multiplication ?

A. 4 x 2 = 2 x 4 B. 3 x 3 = 3 + 3 + 3 ______
C. 5 x 9 - 7 x 9 = (5 - 7) x 3 D. 8 x 1 = 8

3 ) Which equation shows the Identity Property of Multiplication ?

A. a + a + a = 3 x a B. a x 1 ______
C. (a + b) + 8 = a + (8 + b) D. a(b + c) = ab + ac

4 ) Which of the following does not show the Commutative Property of Addition ?
A. 7 + x = x + 7 B. a + b = b + a ______
C. ab = ba D. 3x + 4y = 4y + 3x

5 ) Which Property of Addition does 4 + 0 = 4 illustrate ?

A. Distributive Property B. Zero Property ______
C. Identity Property D. Commutative Property

6 ) Simplify this expression : 7(y + z)

A. 7z + y B. 7y + 7z ______
C. 7yz D. 7y + z

7 ) Which property is used in the following expression ? (4 x 7) x 2 = 7 x (2 x 4)

A. Associative Property of Multiplication B. Associative Property of Addition ______
C. Commutative Property of Addition D. Distributive Property of Multiplication

8 ) Which property of addition is used in the following ? (6 + 5) + 8 = 6 + (5 + 8)

A. Identity Property B. Distributive Property ______
C. Commutative Property D. Associative Property

9 ) Which is an example of Associative Property of Addition ?

A. (5 + 6) + 2 = 5 + (6 + 2) B. 7 + 0 = 7 ______
C. 8 + (-8) = 0 D. 3 + 5 = 5 + 3

10 ) Which of the following is an example of Commutative Property of Addition ?

A. 9 + 5 = 5 + 9 B. 2 + 8 = 3 + 2 ______
C. 4 x 1 = 4 D. (5 + 7) + 6 = 5 + (7 + 6)

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Working with the Properties of Mathematics

1 ) Which of the following does not show the Commutative Property of Addition ?
A. a + b = b + a B. ab = ba ______
C. 5 + x = x + 5 D. 3x + 4y = 4y + 3x

2 ) Which Property of Multiplication is shown ? (6 + 4) x 8 = 6 x 8 + 4 x 8

A. Distributive Property B. Commutative Property ______
C. Associative Property D. Identity Property

3 ) Which property is used in the following expression ? (a x b) x c = a x (b x c)

A. Associative Property of Addition B. Associative Property of Multiplication ______
C. Distributive Property D. Commutative Property of Addition

4 ) Which property is used in the following ? 2 x (3 + 4) = 2 x 3 + 2 x 4

A. Distributive Property B. None of the above ______
C. Commutative Property D. Associative Property

5 ) Which of the following does not show the Commutative Property ?

A. 6 + y = y + 6 B. xy - 8 = xy ______
C. yx = xy D. x + y = y + x

6 ) Which operation will not change the value of any nonzero number ?
A. Multiplying by One B. Multiplying by Zero ______
C. Dividing by Zero D. Adding One

7 ) Which property is used in the following expression ? 3(9 + 8) = 27 + 24

A. Commutative Property of Addition B. Associative Property of Multiplication ______
C. Associative Property of Addition D. Distributive Property

8 ) Which property of addition is used in the following ? (6 + 8) + 7 = 6 + (8 + 7)

A. Distributive Property B. Identity Property ______
C. Associative Property D. Commutative Property

9 ) Which is an example of Associative Property of Addition ?

A. 5 + 0 = 5 B. 9 + 4 = 4 + 9 ______
C. 8 + (-8) = 0 D. (4 + 2) + 7 = 4 + (2 + 7)

10 ) Which equation shows the Identity Property of Multiplication ?

A. a(b + c) = ab + ac B. a + a + a = 3 x a ______
C. (a + b) + 9 = a + (9 + b) D. a x 1

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Working with the Properties of Mathematics

11 ) Which property would you use to simplify the following expression ? 4(y + 5)
A. Multiplication Property of Zero B. Commutative Property ______
C. Associative Property D. Distributive Property

12 ) Simplify this expression : 7(y + z)

A. 7y + 7z B. 7y + z ______
C. 7z + y D. 7yz

13 ) Which Property of Addition does 6 + 0 = 6 illustrate ?

A. Zero Property B. Distributive Property ______
C. Identity Property D. Commutative Property

14 ) Which of the following is an example of Commutative Property of Addition ?

A. 8 + 4 = 4 + 8 B. 9 x 1 = 9 ______
C. 7 + 6 = 5 + 7 D. (4 + 3) + 2 = 4 + (3 + 2)

15 ) Which property is used in the following expression ? (6 x 7) x 2 = 7 x (2 x 6)

A. Commutative Property of Addition B. Distributive Property of Multiplication ______
C. Associative Property of Addition D. Associative Property of Multiplication

16 ) Which equation shows the Commutative Property of Multiplication ?

A. 9 x 1 = 9 B. 4 x 3 = 3 x 4 ______
C. 7 x 8 - 5 x 8 = (7 - 5) x 2 D. 2 x 3 = 2 + 2 + 2

17 ) Which is an example of Identity Property of Addition ?

A. 5 x 1 = 5 B. (8 + 9) + 2 = 8 + (9 + 2) ______
C. 3 + 8 = 8 + 3 D. 6 + 0 = 6

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Working with the Properties of Mathematics

1 ) Simplify this expression : 2(y + z)
A. 2y + 2z B. 2z + y ______
C. 2yz D. 2y + z

2 ) The value of any nonzero number will be changed by ____________________ .

A. adding zero B. multiplying by zero ______
C. dividing by one D. multiplying by one

3 ) Which property of addition is used in the following ? (4 + 7) + 9 = 4 + (7 + 9)

A. Associative Property B. Identity Property ______
C. Distributive Property D. Commutative Property

4 ) Which is an example of Identity Property of Addition ?

A. 3 + 7 = 7 + 3 B. 6 x 1 = 6 ______
C. 4 + 0 = 4 D. (7 + 2) + 8 = 7 + (2 + 8)

5 ) Which operation will not change the value of any nonzero number ?
A. Multiplying by One B. Dividing by Zero ______
C. Adding One D. Multiplying by Zero

6 ) Which of the following is an example of Commutative Property of Addition ?

A. 3 x 1 = 3 B. 5 + 7 = 7 + 5 ______
C. 8 + 6 = 2 + 8 D. (7 + 9) + 4 = 7 + (9 + 4)

7 ) Which Property of Addition does 7 + 0 = 7 illustrate ?

A. Distributive Property B. Zero Property ______
C. Identity Property D. Commutative Property

8 ) Which is an example of Associative Property of Addition ?

A. 8 + 0 = 8 B. (4 + 6) + 3 = 4 + (6 + 3) ______
C. 2 + 4 = 4 + 2 D. 9 + (-9) = 0

9 ) Which equation shows the Identity Property of Multiplication ?

A. a + a + a = 3 x a B. (a + b) + 9 = a + (9 + b) ______
C. a(b + c) = ab + ac D. a x 1

10 ) Which operation will not change the value of any nonzero number ?
A. Dividing by Zero B. Adding Zero ______
C. Adding One D. Multiplying by Zero

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Working with the Properties of Mathematics

11 ) Which equation shows the Zero Property of Multiplication ?
A. 6 x 3 = 3 x 6 B. 9 x 0 = 0 ______
C. 7 x 1 = 7 D. 4 + 4 + 4 = 3 x 4

12 ) Which equation shows the Addition Property of Zero ?

A. a + 0 = a B. (a + b) + 9 = a + (9 + b) ______
C. a(b + c) = ab + ac D. a x 0 = 0

13 ) Which property is used in the following ? 2 x (3 + 8) = 2 x 3 + 2 x 8

A. Associative Property B. Distributive Property ______
C. Commutative Property D. None of the above

14 ) Which equation shows the Commutative Property of Multiplication ?

A. 2 x 6 - 3 x 6 = (2 - 3) x 5 B. 9 x 1 = 9 ______
C. 4 x 7 = 7 x 4 D. 5 x 3 = 5 + 5 + 5

15 ) Which property is used in the following expression ? (a x b) x c = a x (b x c)

A. Commutative Property of Addition B. Associative Property of Addition ______
C. Distributive Property D. Associative Property of Multiplication

16 ) Which property is used in the following expression ? 3(8 + 7) = 24 + 21

A. Commutative Property of Addition B. Distributive Property ______
C. Associative Property of Multiplication D. Associative Property of Addition

17 ) Which of the following does not show the Commutative Property ?

A. 5 + y = y + 5 B. xy - 7 = xy ______
C. yx = xy D. x + y = y + x

18 ) Which property is used in the following expression ? (9 x 2) x 5 = 2 x (5 x 9)

A. Distributive Property of Multiplication B. Commutative Property of Addition ______
C. Associative Property of Addition D. Associative Property of Multiplication

19 ) Which property would you use to simplify the following expression ? 3(y + 4)
A. Associative Property B. Distributive Property ______
C. Multiplication Property of Zero D. Commutative Property

20 ) Which Property of Multiplication is shown ? (8 + 3) x 9 = 8 x 9 + 3 x 9

A. Associative Property B. Identity Property ______
C. Distributive Property D. Commutative Property

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Identify the Properties of Mathematics

1 ) When two numbers are multiplied together, the product is the same regardless
of the order of the multiplicands. For example a x b = b x a ____________________

2 ) The multiplicative inverse of a number, a is _a so that a x _a = 1.

1 1
____________________

3 ) Multiplying any number by 0 yields 0. For example a x 0 = 0. ____________________

4 ) The product of any number and one is that number. For example a x 1 = a. ____________________

5 ) When three or more numbers are multiplied, the product is the same regardless
of the order of the multiplicands. For example (a x b) x c = a x (b x c) ____________________

6 ) When three or more numbers are multiplied, the product is the same regardless
of the order of the multiplicands. For example (a x b) x c = a x (b x c) ____________________

7 ) The product of any number and one is that number. For example a x 1 = a. ____________________

8 ) The multiplicative inverse of a number, a is _a so that a x _a = 1.

1 1
____________________

9 ) Multiplying any number by 0 yields 0. For example a x 0 = 0. ____________________

10 ) When two numbers are multiplied together, the product is the same regardless
of the order of the multiplicands. For example a x b = b x a ____________________

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Identify the Properties of Mathematics

1 ) The additive inverse of a number, a is -a so that a + -a = 0. ____________________

2 ) Adding 0 to any number leaves it unchanged. For example a + 0 = a. ____________________

3 ) Adding 0 to any number leaves it unchanged. For example a + 0 = a. ____________________

4 ) The product of any number and one is that number. For example a x 1 = a. ____________________

5 ) When two numbers are added, the sum is the same regardless of the
order of the addends. For example a + b = b + a ____________________

6 ) When three or more numbers are added, the sum is the same regardless
of the grouping of the addends. For example (a + b) + c = a + (b + c) ____________________

7 ) The sum of two numbers times a third number is equal to the sum of each
addend times the third number. For example a x (b + c) = a x b + a x c ____________________

8 ) The sum of two numbers times a third number is equal to the sum of each
addend times the third number. For example a x (b + c) = a x b + a x c ____________________

9 ) The sum of any number and zero is the original number. For example a + 0 = a. ____________________

10 ) The additive inverse of a number, a is -a so that a + -a = 0. ____________________

11 ) When two numbers are added, the sum is the same regardless of the
order of the addends. For example a + b = b + a ____________________

12 ) When two numbers are added, the sum is the same regardless of the
order of the addends. For example a + b = b + a ____________________

13 ) The sum of any number and zero is the original number. For example a + 0 = a. ____________________

14 ) The sum of two numbers times a third number is equal to the sum of each
addend times the third number. For example a x (b + c) = a x b + a x c ____________________

15 ) When three or more numbers are added, the sum is the same regardless
of the grouping of the addends. For example (a + b) + c = a + (b + c) ____________________

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