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5×0=0
−7 × 0 = 0
0 × 0.0001 = 0
etc!
Properties
Here are the main properties of the Real Numbers
Commutativeexample
a + b = b + a2 + 6 = 6 + 2
ab = ba4 × 2 = 2 × 4
Associativeexample
(a + b) + c = a + ( b + c )(1 + 6) + 3 = 1 + (6 + 3)
(ab)c = a(bc)(4 × 2) × 5 = 4 × (2 × 5)
Distributiveexample
a × (b + c) = ab + ac3 × (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:
Closureexample
a+b is real2 + 3 = 5 is real
Adding zero leaves the real number unchanged, likewise for multiplying by 1:
Identityexample
a + 0 = a6 + 0 = 6
a × 1 = a6 × 1 = 6
For addition the inverse of a real number is its negative, and for multiplication
the inverse is its reciprocal:
Additive Inverseexample
a + (−a ) = 06 + (−6) = 0
Multiplicative Inverseexample
a × (1/a) = 16 × (1/6) = 1
Zero Productexample
If ab = 0 then a=0 or b=0, or both
a × 0 = 0 × a = 05 × 0 = 0 × 5 = 0
Negationexample
−1 × (−a) = −(−a) = a−1 × (−5) = −(−5) = 5
(−a)(−b) = ab(−3)(−6) = 3 × 6 = 18