CHUKA UNIVERSITY

Identity + ×

Inverse + ×
ELEMENTARY
Properties of Real Numbers
Properties of Real Numbers
GENERAL MATHEMATICS
Lecturer: Nelson M
Phone: 0726854017, 0101854017, 0775854017
MATH 100 Email: nelmug2013@gmail.com
Properties of Real Numbers Types
 Commutative
 Associative

 Distributive

 Identity + ×

 Inverse + ×

 Reflexive

 Symmetric

 Transitive

 Substitution
 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.
 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


 Reflexive Property


 Transitive Property

 If a = b and b = c, then a = c

 If 3(3) = 9 and 9 = 4 + 5, then 3(3) = 4 + 5

 Substitution Property

 If a = b, then a can be replaced by b

 i.e. (3 + 2) = 5
Let’s play “Name that property!”
State the property or properties that
justify the following.

3+2=2+3
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
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
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
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
State the property or properties that
justify the following.

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

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

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

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

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

Associative Property of
Multiplication
6(3 – 2n) = 18 – 12n
6(3 – 2n) = 18 – 12n
Distributive Property
2x + 3 = 3 + 2x
 2x + 3 = 3 + 2x
Commutative Property
of Addition
ab = ba
 ab = ba
Commutative Property
of Multiplication
a+0=a
 a+0=a
Identity Property of
Addition
a(bc) = (ab)c
 a(bc) = (ab)c
Associative Property of
Multiplication
a•1 = a
 a•1 = a
Identity Property of
Multiplication
a +b = b + a
 a +b = b + a
Commutative Property
of Addition
a(b + c) = ab + ac
a(b + c) = ab + ac
Distributive Property
a + (b + c) = (a +b) + c
a + (b + c) = (a +b) + c
Associative Property of
Addition
a + (-a) = 0
 a + (-a) = 0
Inverse Property of
Addition
 References
 Secondary mathematics students book one to four, 3'd edition by Kenya literature bureau
2015.

 E. H. Connell, (1999) Elements of Abstract and Linear Algebra, University of Miami.

 Chandler S. and Bostock L. (1990), Core Mathematics for A- level. Stanley Thornes Publishers
Ltd.

 Wolfram MathWorld
http://mathworld.wo1fram.com/. A complete and comprehensive guide to all topics in
mathematics. The students are expected to become familiar with this web site and to follow up key
words and module topics at the site.

 Wolfram MathWorld
http://mathworld.wolfram.com/. Find demonstrations of numbers and number systems and use the
mathematica player programme from the Wofram Mathworld website to practice the
demonstrations.
References
 http://www.examiner.com/math-education-in-
dallas/history-of-pi

 Pi picture

 Microsoft PowerPoint SmartArt

 Graphic organizers