Explain what commutive property is, is give an example. In your explanation also include what operations can be associated with the property
The commutative property is a mathematical principle that states that the order of numbers or variables does not affect the result of an operation. In other words, it is a property that allows us to change the order of numbers or variables in an operation without changing the outcome.
The commutative property is mainly associated with two operations: addition and multiplication.
For addition, the commutative property states that changing the order of the numbers being added does not affect the sum. For example, if we have the equation 2 + 3, we can rearrange the numbers as 3 + 2, and the result will always be 5.
Example: 2 + 3 = 3 + 2
Similarly, for multiplication, the commutative property states that changing the order of the factors being multiplied does not affect the product. For instance, if we have the equation 4 * 5, we can switch the factors, and the result will remain the same.
Example: 4 * 5 = 5 * 4
It is important to note that the commutative property does not hold for all mathematical operations. Subtraction and division, for instance, do not follow the commutative property. So, changing the order of numbers in subtraction or division will alter the result.
In summary, the commutative property allows us to switch the order of numbers or variables in an addition or multiplication operation without affecting the outcome.