Multiplication Properties

Lesson 2-1
Do you remember these Properties of Addition?

Commutative Property of Addition

The numbers move around
a+b=b+a
Associative Property of Addition
Grouping with parentheses
(a + b) + c = a + (b + c)
Identity Property of Addition
The identity of the problem does not change
a+0=a
In multiplication, you will see these
same properties, plus 2 more…
Five Properties of Multiplication
These are the basically the same as addition
Commutative
Associative
Identity

These belong to multiplication only

Zero
Distributive
 Let’s review the addition
properties— from the
multiplicative perspective…

Multiplicative (Do you see most of the word “multiply” in this word?
 Property #1

The Commutative Property

of Multiplication
 The Commutative Property
Background
The word commutative comes from the
verb “to commute.”
Definition on dictionary.com
Commuting means changing, replacing,
exchanging, switching places, trading
places
People who travel back and forth to
work are called commuters.
 Here are two families of commuters.
Hi!
Remember us?
Commuter
B
Commuter
A
Commuter A & Commuter B
changed lanes.

Remember… commute
means to switch places.

Commuter
Commuter
A
B
The Commutative Property

A•B=B•A
Here is another example…
3 groups of 5 = 5 groups of 3
3x5=5x3

15 kids
=
What commutative means to
multiplication…
Remember… in
Lesson 1-11 we said
that the word “of”
means multiply

3 groups of 5 = 5 groups of 3
3•5=5•3
a•b=b•a
 Property #2

The Associative Property

of Multiplication
 The Associative Property
Background
The word associative comes from the
verb “to associate.”
Definition on dictionary.com
Associate means connected, joined, or
related
People who work together are called
associates.
They are joined together by business, and
they have to talk to one another.
 Let’s look at another hypothetical
situation

Three people work together.

Associate B needs to call Associates A and

C to share some news.

Does it matter who he calls first?

 Here are three associates.

B calls A first He calls C

last

If he called C first,
then called A, would
it have made a
A C
difference?
O !
N
 (The Role of Parentheses)

In math, we use parentheses to show groups.

In the order of operations, the numbers and

operations in parentheses are done first.
(PEMDAS)

So….
 The Associative Property
The parentheses identify which two associates talked first.

(A  B)  C = A  (B  C)

B B

THEN THEN

A C A C
 Property #3

The Identity Property

of Multiplication
The Identity Property
I am me!
You cannot change
My identity!
 One is the only number
you can multiply
something by and see no
change.
Identity Property of Multiplication

x1=

ax1=a
Identity Property of Multiplication

x1=
x1=
x1=
ax1=a
These are 3 of the Properties of Multiplication

Commutative Property of Multiplication

The numbers move around
a•b=b•a
Associative Property of Multiplication
Grouping with parentheses
(a • b) • c = a • (b • c)
Identity Property of Multiplication
The identity of the problem does not change
a•1=a
 There are two more properties
which are unique to multiplication

The Zero Property

The Distributive Property
 Property #4

The Zero Property of Multiplication

 The Zero Property of Multiplication

This looks like a mixture of the identity

property of addition and the identity
property of multiplication…
Be careful not to mix them up!
 The Zero Property
Any time you multiply a number by zero,
If I have 2 pockets
your answer is zero! with NO money in
them, then I have
NO money!
2 • 0 = 0

The End
 Property #5

The Distributive Property

of Multiplication
 The Distributive Property
Background
The word distributive comes from the
verb “to distribute.”
Definition on dictionary.com
Distributing refers to passing things out or
delivering things to people
 The Distributive Property
a(b + c) = (a • b) + (a • c)
A times the sum of b and c = a times b plus a times c

Let’s plug in some numbers first. 5(2 + 3) = (5 • 2) + (5 • 3)

Remember that to distribute means delivering items, or handing them out.
Here is how this property works:
You have sold many items for the RCMS fundraiser!
You went to two houses on one street and three houses on a different street.

Every family bought 5 items!

5(2 + 3) = (5 • 2) + (5 • 3)
You went to two houses on one street and three houses on a different street. Every family bought 5

items!
You will be distributing 5 items to each house.

2
3

5
4
1
5(2 + 3) = (5 • 2) + (5 • 3)

You distributed (delivered) these all in one

trip.
There are (2+3) five houses all together.
You need to deliver 5 gifts to each house.
You need to put 25 items on your wagon at
one time.

5 items x 5 houses = 25 items all together

5(2 + 3) = (5 • 2) + (5 • 3)
and

You distributed your items in 10

two trips (+). +
On the first trip you 15
distributed 5 items to each of
2 houses (5 x 2 = 10).
On the second trip you
distributed 5 items to each of
3 houses (5 x 3 = 15).
25
That means you distributed
(delivered) 10 items plus 15
items. That makes 25 items
altogether.
The Distributive Property
Make 1 trip. You have 5 houses. You
need to bring 5 items to each house.
You need 25 items on your wagon.

DISTRIBUTION CENTER

5(2 + 3)
The Distributive Property
Make 2 trips. You have 2 houses for
your first trip and you need to bring 5
items to each house. You have 3
houses on your second trip and need
to bring 5 items to each house. When
your second trip is over, you will have
distributed 25 items.

DISTRIBUTION CENTER

(5 • 2) + (5 • 3)
How do I tell the properties apart?
Commutative
Numbers switch places
Associative
Parentheses on both sides
Only multiplication on each side
Identity
Multiply by 1
Zero Property
Multiply by zero
Distributive
Parentheses on each side
One side has a multiplication sign AND a plus sign
 Let’s practice !

Look at the problem.

Identify which property it represents.
4(5 + 6) = (4 • 5) + (4 • 6)
The Distributive Property
of Multiplication

•3 numbers on one side—4 on the other

•Multiplication AND addition
•3 sets of parentheses
 987 • 1 = 987
The Identity Property
of Multiplication

•Times 1
 3•0=0

Zero Property of Multiplication

•Times zero
 (1 • 2) • 3 = 1 • (2 • 3)

The Associative Property of

Multiplication

•Same 3 numbers
•Multiplication only
•2 sets of parentheses
 6 • 11 = 11 • 6
The Commutative Property
of Multiplication

•Same 2 numbers
•Numbers switched places
 9•7=7•9
The Commutative Property
of Multiplication

•Same 2 numbers
•Numbers switched places
 12 • 0 = 0

Zero Property of Multiplication

•Times zero
 (9 • 8) • 7 = 9 • (8 • 7)

The Associative Property of

Multiplication

•Same 3 numbers
•Multiplication only
•2 sets of parentheses
9(8 + 7) = (9 • 8) + (9 • 7)
The Distributive Property
of Multiplication

•3 numbers on one side—4 on the other

•Multiplication AND addition
•3 sets of parentheses
 9•1=9
The Identity Property
of Multiplication

•Times 1
a•1=a
The Identity Property
of Multiplication
a•b=b•a
The Commutative Property
of Multiplication
(a + b) + c = a + (b + c)
The Associative Property
of Multiplication

A C
a•0=0
The Zero Property
of Multiplication
a(b • c) = (a • b) + (a • c)
The Distributive Property
of Multiplication