Properties of Real Numbers
Properties of Real Numbers
The properties of real numbers can be used to simplify algebraic expressions and perform
the operations needed to solve equations and inequalities.
(a + b) + c = a + (b + c)
(ab)c = a(bc)
a+b=b+a
ab = ba
a+0=a
Identity Property of Multiplication
Identities are the numbers that, on operation with any number, give the same number as the
result. The multiplicative identity states that when 1 is multiplied by any number, the number
doesn’t change.
a∙1=a
a + (-a) = 0
a ∙ 1/a = 1
Distributive Property
The distributive property is used to multiply a single term and two or more terms inside a set
of parentheses.
(a + b)c = ac + bc