ER 11

LESSON 1 - FUNDAMETALS OF ALGEBRA

BASIC RULES OF ALGEBRA

Let a, b, and c be real numbers, variables or algebraic expressions.

1. Closure Property : Addition a+b

: Multiplication a٠b

2. Commutative Property : Addition a+b = b+a

: Multiplication a٠b = b٠a

3. Associative Property : Addition (a+b) + c = a + (b+c) : Multiplication

(a٠+b) ٠c = a ٠ (b٠c)

4, Identity Property : Addition a+0 = 0+a = a

: Multiplication a ٠1 = 1 ٠ a = a

5. Inverse Property : Addition a + (-a) = 0 = (-a) + a : Multiplication a( ) ) a

with a 0

6. Distributive Property : Left a (b+c) = ab + ac

: Right (a+b) c = ac + bc

In number #4, 0 is called an ADDITIVE IDENTITY while 1 is called MULTIPLICATIVE

IDENTITY. In # 5, -a is known as ADDITIVE INVERSE of a , WHILE 1/A IS THE multiplicative
inverse of a.