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Commutative, Associative and Distributive Laws

The document discusses three mathematical laws: 1) Commutative laws state that the order of numbers can be swapped when adding or multiplying without changing the result (e.g. a + b = b + a). 2) Associative laws state that the grouping of numbers does not affect the result when adding or multiplying (e.g. (a + b) + c = a + (b + c)). 3) The distributive law allows multiplying a number by a group of added numbers to be distributed into separate multiplications then added (e.g. a × (b + c) = a × b + a × c).

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847 views4 pages

Commutative, Associative and Distributive Laws

The document discusses three mathematical laws: 1) Commutative laws state that the order of numbers can be swapped when adding or multiplying without changing the result (e.g. a + b = b + a). 2) Associative laws state that the grouping of numbers does not affect the result when adding or multiplying (e.g. (a + b) + c = a + (b + c)). 3) The distributive law allows multiplying a number by a group of added numbers to be distributed into separate multiplications then added (e.g. a × (b + c) = a × b + a × c).

Uploaded by

Annisa Rohmah
Copyright
© Attribution Non-Commercial (BY-NC)
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Commutative, Associative and Distributive Laws

(source : math.com)

Wow! What a mouthful of words! But the ideas are simple.

Commutative Laws
The "Commutative Laws" say you can swap numbers over and still get the same answer ... ... when you add:

a+b = b+a
Example:

... or when you multiply:

ab = ba
Example:

Associative Laws
The "Associative Laws" say that it doesn't matter how you group the numbers (i.e. which you calculate first) ... ... when you add:

(a + b) + c = a + (b + c)

... or when you multiply:

(a b) c = a (b c)

Examples:
This: Has the same answer as this: (2 + 4) + 5 = 6 + 5 = 11 2 + (4 + 5) = 2 + 9 = 11

This: Has the same answer as this:

(3 4) 5 = 12 5 = 60 3 (4 5) = 3 20 = 60

Uses:
Sometimes it is easier to add or multiply in a different order:

What is 19 + 36 + 4?
19 + 36 + 4 = 19 + (36 + 4) = 19 + 40 = 59 Or to rearrange a little:

What is 2 16 5?
2 16 5 = (2 5) 16 = 10 16 = 160

Distributive Law
The "Distributive Law" is the BEST one of all, but needs careful attention. This is what it lets you do:

3 lots of (2+4) is the same as 3 lots of 2 plus 3 lots of 4 So, the 3 can be "distributed" across the 2+4, into 32 and 34

Try the calculations yourself: 3 (2 + 4) = 3 6 = 18 32 + 34 = 6 + 12 = 18

Either way gets the same answer. So, the "Distributive Law" says: You get the same answer when you: Like this: multiply a number by a group of numbers added together, or do each multiply separately then add them

a (b + c) = a b + a c

Uses:
Sometimes it is easier to break up a difficult multiplication:

Example: What is 6 204 ?


6 204 = 6200 + 64 = 1,200 + 24 = 1,224 Or to combine:

Example: What is 16 6 + 16 4?
16 6 + 16 4 = 16 (6+4) = 16 10 = 160 You can use it in subtraction too:

Example: 263 - 243


263 - 243 = (26 - 24) 3 = 2 3 = 6 You could use it for a long list of additions, too:

Example: 67 + 27 + 37 + 57 + 47
67 + 27 + 37 + 57 + 47 = (6+2+3+5+4) 7 = 20 7 = 140

But Not ...


Don't go too far! These laws are to do with adding or multiplying, not dividing or subtracting. The Commutative Law does not work for division: Example:

12 / 3 = 4, but 3 / 12 =

The Associative Law does not work for subtraction: Example: (9 4) 3 = 5 3 = 2, but 9 (4 3) = 9 1 = 8

The Distributive Law does not work for division: Example: 24 / (4 + 8) = 24 / 12 = 2, but 24 / 4 + 24 / 8 = 6 + 3 = 9

Summary
Commutative Laws:

a+b = b+a ab = ba (a + b) + c = a + (b + c) (a b) c = a (b c) a (b + c) = a b + a c

Associative Laws:

Distributive Law:

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