ELEMENTARY ALGEBRA

Name of Learner: _____________________________________ Grade Level: ____________

Section: _____________________________________________ Date : _________________

LEARNING ACTIVITY SHEET

Basic Properties of Real Numbers

Background Information for Learners

This learning activity sheet serves as self-learning guide for the learners.
Understanding the basic properties of real numbers will help you simplify numerical and algebraic
expressions, deal with variables and solve equations. The term
properties refer to the characteristics or behaviors of real numbers
under the operation of addition and/or multiplication that are accepted
even without proof.

The goal of this learning activity sheet is to illustrate the basic properties of real numbers.

Are you ready to have a joy ride with me? Now, let us explore the basic
properties of real numbers. I hope you will enjoy the topic and activities.

Read and understand the different properties.

Properties of Real Number
1. Closure Property
a) Closure Property for Addition: The sum of any pair of real numbers is also a
real number. In notation, we have :

If a, b  R, then a + b  R. (“ reads as element”)

Ex. 1. 2 + 6 = 8 ; 2. 6 + 12 = 18
b) Closure Property for Multiplication: The product of any pair of real numbers
is also a real number. In notation, we have:

If a, b  R, then ab  R.
Ex. 1. 2(7) = 14 ; 2. 7(7) = 49
2. Commutative Property
a) Commutative Property for Addition: The sum of two real numbers is the
same, no matter what order the numbers are added. In notation, we have:

a+b=b+a
Ex: 1. 8 + 5 ? 5 + 8; 2. 12.5 + 3.8 ? 3.8 +12.5

13 = 13 16.3 = 16.3

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 b) Commutative Property for Multiplication: The product of two real numbers is
the same, no matter what order the numbers are multiplied. In notation, we have:
ab = ba

This means that multiplying two real numbers will give the same product
regardless of the order in which the numbers are multiplied.

Ex. 1. 3  7 ? 7  3 2. 2/3  1/5 ? 1/5  2/3

21 = 21 2/15 = 2/15

3. Associative Property
a) Associative Property for Addition. The sum of three or more real numbers is
the same, no matter how the numbers are grouped. In notation, we have:
a + (b + c) = (a + b) + c

Ex. 1. (3 + 5) + 10 ? 3 + (5 + 10)
8 + 10 ≟ 3 + 15
18 = 18

b) Associative Property for Multiplication. The product of three or more real

numbers is the same, no matter how the numbers are grouped. In notation,
(ab)c = a(bc)

Ex. ( 20  ¼ )  2 ? 20  ( ¼  2 )
5  2 ≟ 20  ½
10 = 10
4. Identity Property
a) Identity Property for Addition. The sum of any real number and zero is equal to
the given number. The number 0 is called the additive identity.
a + 0 = a and 0 + a = a

Ex. 1. 0 + 15 = 15 2. 25 + 0 = 25

b) Identity Property for Multiplication. The product of any real number and 1 is
equal to the given number. The number 1 is called the multiplicative identity.
a  1 = a and 1  a = a

Ex. 1. 39 1 = 39 2. 1  48 = 48
5. Inverse Property
a) Inverse Property for Addition. The sum of a real number and its opposite is 0. The
number opposite the given real number is called its additive inverse.
a + (-a) = 0 and (-a) + (a) = 0

Ex. 1. 2/3 + ( -2/3 ) = 0 2. –5 + 5 = 0

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 b) Inverse Property for Multiplication. The product of a real number and its
reciprocal is 1. The reciprocal of any given real number is called its multiplicative
inverse. Note also that zero does not have a multiplicative inverse.
a  1/a = 1 and 1/a  a = 1, where the value of a is not 0

Ex. 1. 2/3  3/2 = 1 2. (-5)  ( - 1/5) = 1

6. Distributive Property.
Multiplication is distributive with respect to addition.
a(b + c) = ac and (b + c)a = ba + ca

Ex. 1. 2(6 + 3) = 2(6) + 2(3); 2. (7+ 6)5 = 7(5) + 6(5)

7. Multiplicative Property of Zero. The product of a given real number and 0 is 0.
a · 0 = 0 and 0 · a = 0, where the value of a is not 0.

Ex. 1. 12(0) = 0 2. 0(9) = 0

Learning Competency (Quarter 1, week 2)

The learner illustrates the basic properties of real numbers.

Did you understand the different properties on real numbers? If yes, then proceed to the
activities.

Activity 1: Hunting Time!

Direction: Find and encircle the different basic properties of real numbers. Look for them in all
directions.

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Activity 2: Name Me!
Direction: In each item, identify the property being used. Choose your answer from the box and
write the letter of the correct answer on the blank provided.
_____1. 2 + 3 = 5 _____6. 18 x 1 = 18
_____2. 3 + 8 = 8 + 3 _____7. 8 + (-8) = 0
_____3. 5(7) = 35 _____8. 3/5 + (2/5 + 4/5) = (3/5 + 2/5) + 4/5
_____4. 2(5 + 7) = 10 + 14 _____9. 1000(0) = 0
_____5. 2/5 + 3/7 = 3/7 + 2/5 _____10. 1,000,000 + 0 = 1,000,000

A. Closure Property for Multiplication F. Commutative Property for Addition

B. Multiplication Property of Zero G. Associative Property for Addition
C. Distributive Property H. Identity Property for Multiplication
D. Commutative Property for Addition I. Closure Property for Addition
E. Identity Property for Addition J. Inverse Property for Addition

Activity 3: Match Me!

Direction: Match the number sentence in Column A to the property of real numbers it
demonstrates found in Column B. Write the letter only.
Column A Column B
_____ 1) 5  (2m + 7n) = (5  2m) + (5  7n) a) Associative Property
_____2) (12p + 19q) + 0 = 12p + 19q b) Commutative Property

_____3) (-8) + 8) + 15y = 0 + 15y c) Closure Property

_____4) 9  (11  23) = (11  23)  9 d) Identity Property

_____5) (8  12)  1/12 = 8  (12  1/12) e) Inverse Property

f) Distributive Property

Activity 3: Complete Me!

Direction: Use the indicated property to complete an equality.
1. Distributive Property 4(x + y) = ___________________
2. Identity Property for Multiplication – 8 • 1 = ___________________
3. Inverse Property for Addition – 8 + 8 = ___________________
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4. Inverse Property for Multiplication - 9 (– 9 )= ____________________
5. Inverse Property for Addition 3x + ( ________ )= _________________
6. Commutative Property for Addition 5a + 3b = _______________
7. Associative Property for Addition ( 2x + 3y ) + 5z = _______________
8. Associative Property for Multiplication ( 6 • x ) • y = ________________
9. Commutative Property for Multiplication ( 8 a ) • b = ____________
10. Identity Property for Multiplication ( 8a ) • 1 = ____________________

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 How did you find the activities? I hope you are excellent.
Now, try to complete the statement for your reflections.

Reflections
In this lesson, I have learned
______________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________
______________________________________________

Answer Key
Activity 1: Hunting Time!

Activity 4: Complete Me!

Activity 2: Name Me! Activity 3: Match Me! 1. 4x + 5y 6. 3b + 5a
1. I 6. H 1. F
2. -8 7. 2x + (3y + 5z)
2. F 7. J 2. D
3. A 8. G 3. E 3. 0 8. 6(xy)
4. C 9. B 4. B 4. 1 9. b (8a)
5. D 10. E 5. A 5. -3x, 0 10. 8a

References

Bernabe, Julieta G., et.al. “Elementary Algebra Textbook for First Year.” SD Publications, Inc.,
2009, pp. 125-127

Estela, Mike. “Chilimath.com.”May 3, 2021. https://www.chilimath.com/lessons/introductory-

algebra/properties-of-real-numbers/

Malaborbor, Pastor B., et.al.” Elementary Algebra.” Diamond Offset Press, Inc. 2002, pp. 161-162

Prepared by:
JOEY V. BACULI
Bambang National High School