Properties of Equality

1. Reflexive property of equality:

a = a.

Any number is equal to itself.

Example: 14 = 14.

2. Symmetric property of equality:

If a = b, then b = a.

An equation may be written in the opposite order,

Example: If y = 45, then 45 = y.

3. Transitive property of equality:

If a = b and b = c, then a =c.

Two quantities that are equal to the same thing are equal to each other.

Example: If x = 10 and 10 = y, then x = y.

4. Addition property of equality;

If a = b, then a + c = b + c.

The same number can be added to both sides of an equation.

Example: If x = 35, then x + 4 = 35 + 4.

If x – 3 = 7, then x = 10 by adding 3 on both sides.

5. Subtraction property of equality:

If a = b, then a – c = b – c.

The same number can be subtracted from both sides of an equation.

Example: If x = 13, then x – 4 = 13 – 4.

If x + 2 = 11, then x = 9 by subtracting 2 on both sides.

6. Multiplication property of equality:

If a = b, then a x c = b x c.

States that if both the sides of an equation are multiplied by the same number,
the expressions on the both sides of the equation remain equal to each other.

Example: If x/4 = 5, then x = 20 by multiplying by 4 on both sides.

7. Division property of equality;

If a = b and ‘c’ is not equal to 0, then a/c = b/c.

Both sides of an equation can be divided by any non- zero number.

 Example: If x = 8, then x/2 = 8/2.

If 8x = 16, then x = 2 by dividing by 8 on both sides.

8. Substitution property of equality:

If a = b, then ‘b’ may be substituted for ‘a’ in any expression containing ‘a’.

A number may be substituted for its equal in any expression.

Example: If x = 80 and y = 80, then x = y.

If 5x – 2y = z and x = y, then 5x – 2x = 12 or 5y – 2y = 12