The commutative property of addition lets us change the position of addends (numbers being added together) that are being added together in an expression without changing the end result - no matter how many addends there are!
We can use the commutative property in simple expressions as well as algebraic expressions, and more!

Let's define the commutative property of addition as:
a+b=b+a a+b=b+a

and in an algebraic expression:
X+number=number+X X+number=number+X

A - The Commutative Property of Addition

Practice The Commutative Property of Addition

Examples with solutions for The Commutative Property of Addition

Exercise #1

15×2×8= 15\times2\times8=

Video Solution

Step-by-Step Solution

Since the exercise involves only multiplication, we will use the commutative property to simplify the calculation:

2×15×8= 2\times15\times8=

Now let's solve the multiplication on the right:

15×8=120 15\times8=120

Now we get the expression:

2×120=240 2\times120=240

Answer

240 240

Exercise #2

5+14+5= 5+14+5=

Video Solution

Step-by-Step Solution

Since the exercise only involves addition, we will use the commutative property to calculate more conveniently:

5+5+14= 5+5+14=

We will solve the exercise from left to right:

5+5=10 5+5=10

10+14=24 10+14=24

Answer

24

Exercise #3

8+9+2= 8+9+2=

Video Solution

Step-by-Step Solution

Since the exercise only involves addition, we will use the commutative property to solve it more conveniently:

8+2+9= 8+2+9=

Let's solve the exercise from left to right:

8+2=10 8+2=10

10+9=19 10+9=19

Answer

19

Exercise #4

555222=? 5\cdot5\cdot5\cdot2\cdot2\cdot2=?

Video Solution

Step-by-Step Solution

We use the substitution property and organize the exercise in the following order:

5×2×5×2×5×2= 5\times2\times5\times2\times5\times2=

We place parentheses in the exercise:

(5×2)×(5×2)×(5×2)= (5\times2)\times(5\times2)\times(5\times2)=

We solve from left to right:

10×10×10= 10\times10\times10=

(10×10)×10= (10\times10)\times10=

100×10=1000 100\times10=1000

Answer

1000

Exercise #5

5+2= -5+2=

Video Solution

Step-by-Step Solution

If we draw a line that starts at negative five and ends at 5

We will go from the point negative five two steps forward (+2) we will arrive at the number negative 3.

Answer

3 -3

Exercise #6

10523= 10-5-2-3=

Video Solution

Step-by-Step Solution

Given that the entire exercise is with subtraction, we solve the exercise from left to right:

105=5 10-5=5

52=3 5-2=3

33=0 3-3=0

Answer

0 0

Exercise #7

42+24= 4-2+2-4=

Video Solution

Step-by-Step Solution

Given that we are referring to addition and subtraction exercises, we solve the exercise from left to right:

42=2 4-2=2

2+2=4 2+2=4

44=0 4-4=0

Answer

0 0

Exercise #8

32+10x= 3-2+10-x=

Video Solution

Step-by-Step Solution

We solve the exercise from left to right:

32=1 3-2=1

1+10=11 1+10=11

Now we obtain:

11x 11-x

Answer

11x 11-x

Exercise #9

11×3+7= 11\times3+7=

Video Solution

Step-by-Step Solution

In this exercise, it is not possible to use the substitution property, therefore we solve it as is from left to right according to the order of arithmetic operations.

That is, we first solve the multiplication exercise and then we add:

11×3=33 11\times3=33

33+7=40 33+7=40

Answer

40 40

Exercise #10

12×13+14= 12\times13+14=

Video Solution

Step-by-Step Solution

According to the order of operations, we start with the multiplication exercise and then with the addition.

12×13=156 12\times13=156

Now we get the exercise:

156+14=170 156+14=170

Answer

170 170

Exercise #11

14×4+2= \frac{1}{4}\times4+2=

Video Solution

Step-by-Step Solution

According to the order of operations, we first solve the multiplication exercise:

We add the 4 in the numerator of the fraction:

1×44+2= \frac{1\times4}{4}+2=

We solve the exercise in the numerator of the fraction and obtain:

44+2=1+2=3 \frac{4}{4}+2=1+2=3

Answer

3 3

Exercise #12

24+61= -2-4+6-1=

Video Solution

Step-by-Step Solution

According to the order of operations, we solve the exercise from left to right:

24=6 -2-4=-6

6+6=0 -6+6=0

01=1 0-1=-1

Answer

1 -1

Exercise #13

4:2+2= 4:2+2=

Video Solution

Step-by-Step Solution

According to the order of operations, we first solve the division exercise:

4:2=2 4:2=2

Now we obtain the exercise:

2+2=4 2+2=4

Answer

4 4

Exercise #14

Solve:

23+1 2-3+1

Video Solution

Step-by-Step Solution

We use the substitution property and add parentheses for the addition operation:

(2+1)3= (2+1)-3=

Now, we solve the exercise according to the order of operations:

2+1=3 2+1=3

33=0 3-3=0

Answer

0

Exercise #15

Solve:

34+2+1 3-4+2+1

Video Solution

Step-by-Step Solution

We will use the substitution property to arrange the exercise a bit more comfortably, we will add parentheses to the addition operation:
(3+2+1)4= (3+2+1)-4=
We first solve the addition, from left to right:
3+2=5 3+2=5

5+1=6 5+1=6
And finally, we subtract:

64=2 6-4=2

Answer

2

Topics learned in later sections

  1. The commutative property
  2. The Commutative Property of Multiplication
  3. The Distributive Property
  4. The Distributive Property for Seventh Graders
  5. The Distributive Property of Division
  6. The Distributive Property in the Case of Multiplication
  7. The commutative properties of addition and multiplication, and the distributive property
  8. The Associative Property
  9. The Associative Property of Addition
  10. The Associative Property of Multiplication
  11. Advanced Arithmetic Operations
  12. Subtracting Whole Numbers with Addition in Parentheses
  13. Division of Whole Numbers Within Parentheses Involving Division
  14. Subtracting Whole Numbers with Subtraction in Parentheses
  15. Division of Whole Numbers with Multiplication in Parentheses