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1.7 Properties of the Real Numbers

In This Section
1The CommutativeProperties
2The Associative Properties
3The Distributive Property
4The Identity Properties
5The Inverse Properties
6Identifying the Properties

Everyone knows that the price of a hamburger plus the price of a Coke is the same as the price of a Coke
plus the price of a hamburger. But do you know that this example illustrates the commutative property of
addition? The properties of the real numbers are commonly used by anyone who performs the operations
of arithmetic. In algebra we must have a thorough understanding of these properties.

1 The Commutative Properties

We get the same result whether we evaluate 3 + 5 or 5 + 3. This example illustrates the commutative
property of addition. The fact that 4 · 6 and 6 · 4 are equal illustrates the commutative property of
multiplication.

Commutative Property of Addition

For any real numbers a and b,

Commutative Property of Multiplication

For any real numbers a and b,

EXAMPLE 1
The commutative property of addition

Use the commutative property of addition to rewrite each expression.

a)
2 + (−10)

b)
8 + x2

c)
2y − 4x

Solution
a)
2 + (−10) = −10 + 2

b)
8 + x2 = x2 + 8

c)
2y − 4x = 2y + (−4x) = −4x + 2y

Now do Exercises 1–6

EXAMPLE 2
The commutative property of multiplication

Use the commutative property of multiplication to rewrite each expression.

a)
n·3

b)
(x + 2)·3

c)
 5 − yx

Solution
a)
n · 3 = 3 · n = 3n

b)
(x + 2)·3 = 3(x + 2)

c)
5 − yx = 5 − xy

Now do Exercises 7–12

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Addition and multiplication are commutative operations, but what about subtraction and division· Since 5
− 3 = 2 and 3 − 5= −2, subtraction is not commutative. To see that division is not commutative, try
dividing $8 among 4 people and $4 among 8 people.

2 The Associative Properties

Consider the computation of 2 + 3 + 6. Using the order of operations, we add 2 and 3 to get 5 and then
add 5 and 6 to get 11. If we add 3 and 6 first to get 9 and then add 2 and 9, we also get 11. So,

We get the same result for either order of addition. This property is called the associative property of
addition. The commutative and associative properties of addition are the reason that a hamburger, a
Coke, and French fries cost the same as French fries, a hamburger, and a Coke.

Helpful Hint

In arithmetic we would probably write (2 + 3) + 7 = 12 without thinking about the associative property.
In algebra, we need the associative property to understand that

We also have an associative property of multiplication. Consider the following two ways to find the
product of 2, 3, and 4:

We get the same result for either arrangement.

Associative Property of Addition

For any real numbers a, b, and c,

Associative Property of Multiplication

For any real numbers a, b, and c,

EXAMPLE 3
Using the properties of multiplication

Use the commutative and associative properties of multiplication and exponential notation to rewrite
each product.

a)
(3x)(x)

b)
(xy)(5yx)

Solution
a)
(3x)(x) = 3(x · x) = 3x2

b)
 The commutative and associative properties of multiplication allow us to rearrange the multiplication in
any order. We generally write numbers before variables, and we usually write variables in alphabetical
order:

Now do Exercises 13–18

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Consider the expression

According to the accepted order of operations, we could evaluate this by computing from left to right.
However, using the definition of subtraction, we can rewrite this expression as addition:

The commutative and associative properties of addition allow us to add these numbers in any order we
choose. It is usually faster to add the positive numbers, add the negative numbers, and then combine
those two totals:

Note that by performing the operations in this manner, we must subtract only once. There is no need to
rewrite this expression as we have done here. We can sum the positive numbers and the negative
numbers from the original expression and then combine their totals.

EXAMPLE 4
Using the properties of addition

Evaluate.

a)
3−7+9−5

b)
4−5−9+6−2+4−8

Solution
a)
First add the positive numbers and the negative numbers:

b)

Now do Exercises 19–26

It is certainly not essential that we evaluate the expressions of Example 4 as shown. We get the same
answer by adding and subtracting from left to right. However, in algebra, just getting the answer is not
always the most important point. Learning new methods often increases understanding.

Even though addition is associative, subtraction is not an associative operation. For example, (8 − 4) − 3
= 1 and 8 − (4 − 3) = 7. So,

We can also use a numerical example to show that division is not associative. For instance, (16 ÷ 4) ÷ 2
= 2 and 16 ÷ (4 ÷ 2) = 8. So,

3 The Distributive Property

If four men and five women pay $3 each for a movie, there are two ways to find the total amount spent:

Helpful Hint
To visualize the distributive property, we can determine the number of circles shown here in two ways:

There are 3 · 9 or 27 circles, or there are 3 · 4 circles in the first group and 3 · 5 circles in the second
group for a total of 27 circles.

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Since we get $27 either way, we can write

We say that the multiplication by 3 is distributed over the addition. This example illustrates the
distributive property.

Consider the following expressions involving multiplication and subtraction:

Since both expressions have the same value, we can write

Multiplication by 5 is distributed over each number in the parentheses. This example illustrates that
multiplication distributes over subtraction.

Distributive Property

For any real numbers a, b, and c,

We can use the distributive property to remove parentheses. If we start with 4(x + 3) and write

we are using it to multiply 4 and x + 3 or to remove the parentheses. We wrote the product 4(x + 3) as
the sum 4x + 12.

The Distributive Property

EXAMPLE 5
Writing a product as a sum or difference

Use the distributive property to remove the parentheses.

a)
a (3 − b)

b)
−3(x − 2)

Solution
a)

b)

Now do Exercises 27–38

When we write a number or an expression as a product, we are factoring. If we start with 3x + 15 and
write

we are using the distributive property to factor 3x + 15. We factored out the common factor 3.
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EXAMPLE 6
Writing a sum or difference as a product

Use the distributive property to factor each expression.

a)
7 x − 21

b)
5a + 5

Solution
a)

b)

Now do Exercises 39–50

4 The Identity Properties

The numbers 0 and 1 have special properties. Multiplication of a number by 1 does not change the
number, and addition of 0 to a number does not change the num ber. That is why 1 is called the
multiplicative identity and 0 is called the additive identity.

Additive Identity Property

For any real number a,

Multiplicative Identity Property

For any real number a,

5 The Inverse Properties

The idea of additive inverses was introduced in Section 1.3. Every real number a has an additive
inverse or opposite, − a , such that a + (− a) = 0. Every nonzero real number a also has a
multiplicative inverse or reciprocal, written , such that . Note that the sum of additive
inverses is the additive identity and that the product of multiplicative inverses is the multiplicative
identity.

Additive Inverse Property

For any real number a, there is a unique number −a such that

Multiplicative Inverse Property

For any nonzero real number a, there is a unique number such that

We are already familiar with multiplicative inverses for rational numbers. For example, the multiplicative
inverse of because

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EXAMPLE 7
Multiplicative inverses

Find the multiplicative inverse of each number.

a)
5
b)
0.3

c)

d)
1.7

Solution
a)
The multiplicative inverse of 5 is because

b)
To find the reciprocal of 0.3, we first write 0.3 as a ratio of integers:

The multiplicative inverse of 0.3 is because

c)
The reciprocal of because

d)
First convert 1.7 to a ratio of integers:

The multiplicative inverse is .

Now do Exercises 51–62

Calculator Close-Up

You can find multiplicative inverses with a calculator as shown here.

When the divisor is a fraction, it must be in parentheses.

6 Identifying the Properties

Zero has a property that no other number has. Multiplication involving zero always results in zero.

Multiplication Property of Zero

For any real number a,

Identifying the Properties

EXAMPLE 8
Identifying the properties

Name the property that justifies each equation.

a)
5·7=7·5
b)

c)
1 · 864 = 864

d)
6 + (5 + x) = (6 + 5) + x

e)
3x + 5x = (3 + 5)x

f)
6 + (x + 5) = 6 + (5 + x)

g)
πx2 + πy2 = π(x2 + y2)

h)
325 + 0 = 325

i)
−3 + 3 = 0

j)
455 · 0 = 0

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Solution
a)
Commutative property of multiplication

b)
Multiplicative inverse property

c)
Multiplicative identity property

d)
Associative property of addition

e)
Distributive property

f)
Commutative property of addition

g)
Distributive property

h)
Additive identity property

i)
Additive inverse property

j)
Multiplication property of 0

Now do Exercises 63–82

1. According to the property of addition, a + b = b + a for any real numbers a and b.

2. According to the property, a(b + c) = ab + ac for any real numbers a, b, and c.

3. According to the property of addition, a + (b + c) = (a + b) + c for any real

4. is the process of writing a number or expression as a product.

5. The number 0 is the identity.

True or false·

7. 99 + (36 + 78) = (99 + 36) + 78

8. 24 ÷ (4 ÷ 2) = (24 ÷ 4) ÷ 2

9. 9 − (4 − 3) = (9 − 4) − 3

10. 156 + 387 = 387 + 156

11. 156 ÷ 387 = 387 ÷ 156

12. 5x + 5 = 5(x + 1) for any real number x.

13. The multiplicative inverse of 0.02 is 50.

14. The additive inverse of 0 is 0.

15. The number −2 is a solution to 3x − 5 = x − 9.

Exercises
Study Tips

1. Don't stay up all night cramming for a test. Prepare for a test well in advance and get a good
night's sleep before a test.

2. Do your homework on a regular basis so that there is no need to cram.

1 The Commutative Properties

Use the commutative property of addition to rewrite each expression. See Example 1.

1. 9 + r

2. t + 6

3. 3(2 + x)

4. P (1 + rt)

5. 4 − 5x

6. b −2a

Use the commutative property of multiplication to rewrite each expression. See Example 2.

7. x · 6

8. y · (−9)

9. (x − 4)(−2)

10. a(b + c)

11. 4 − y · 8

12. z · 9 − 2

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2 The Associative Properties

Use the commutative and associative properties of multiplication and exponential notation to rewrite
each product. See Example 3.

13. (4w)(w)

14. (y)(2y)

15. 3a (ba)

16. (x · x)(7x)
 17. (x)(9x)(xz)

18. y (y · 5)(wy)

Evaluate by finding first the sum of the positive numbers and then the sum of the negative numbers. See
Example 4.

19. 8 − 4 + 3 − 10

20. −3 + 5 − 12 + 10

21. 8 − 10 + 7 − 8 − 7

22. 6 − 11 + 7 − 9 + 13 − 2

23. −4 − 11 + 7 − 8 + 15 − 20

24. −8 + 13 − 9 − 15 + 7 − 22 + 5

25. −3.2 + 2.4 − 2.8 + 5.8 − 1.6

26. 5.4 − 5.1 + 6.6 − 2.3 + 9.1

3 The Distributive Property

Use the distributive property to remove the parentheses. See Example 5.

27. 3(x − 5)

28. 4(b −1)

29. a (2 + t)

30. b(a + w)

31. −3(w − 6)

Exercise 32 - Distribute a Constant into a Binomial

32. −3(m − 5)

33. −4(5− y)

34. −3(6− p)

35. −1(a −7)

36. −1(c −8)

37. −1(t + 4)

38. −1(x + 7)

Use the distributive property to factor each expression. See Example 6.

39. 2m + 12

40. 3y + 6

41. 4x − 4

42. 6y + 6

43. 4y − 16

Exercise 44 - Using the Distributive Property to Factor

44. 5x + 15

45. 4a + 8

46. 7a − 35

47. x + xy
 48. a − ab

49. 6a − 2b

50. 8a + 2c

5 The Inverse Properties

Find the multiplicative inverse (reciprocal) of each number. See Example 7.

51.

52.

53. − 5

54.

55.

Exercise 56 - The Inverse Properties

56.

57. 1

58. −1

59. −0.25

60.

61.

62.

6 Identifying the Properties

Name the property that justifies each equation. See Example 8.

63. 3 · x = x · 3

64. x + 5 = 5 + x

65. 2(x − 3) = 2x − 6

66. a(bc) = (ab)c

67. −3(xy) = (−3x)y

68. 3(x + 1) = 3x + 3

Exercise 69 - Identifying the Properties: Additive Inverse Property

69. 4 + (−4) = 0

70. 1.3 + 9 = 9 + 1.3

Exercise 71 - Identifying the Properties: Associative Property of Multiplication

71. x2 · 5 = 5x2

72. 0 · π = 0

73. 1 · 3y = 3y

74. (0.1)(10) = 1

75. 2a + 5a = (2 + 5)a

76. 3 + 0 = 3
 77. −7 + 7 = 0

78. 1 · b = b

79. (2346)0 = 0

80. 4x + 4 = 4(x + 1)

81. ay + y = y(a + 1)

82. ab + bc = b(a + c)

Complete each equation, using the property named.

83. a + y = , commutative property of addition

84. 6x + 6 = , distributive property

85. 5(aw) = , associative property of multiplication

86. x + 3 = , commutative property of addition

87. = , distributive property

88. −3(x −7) = , distributive property

89. 6x + 15 = , distributive property

90. (x + 6) + 1 = , associative property of addition

91. 4(0.25) = , multiplicative inverse property

92. −1(5− y) = , distributive property

93. 0 = 96( ), multiplication property of zero

94. 3 · ( ) = 3, multiplicative identity property

95. 0.33( ) = 1, multiplicative inverse property

96. −8(1) = , multiplicative identity property

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Getting More Involved

97. Writing

The perimeter of a rectangle is the sum of twice the length and twice the width. Write in words
another way to find the perimeter that illustrates the distributive property.

98. Discussion

Eldrid bought a loaf of bread for $2.50 and a gallon of milk for $4.31. Using a tax rate of 5%, he
correctly figured that the tax on the bread would be 13 cents and the tax on the milk would be 22
cents, for a total of $7.16. However, at the cash register he was correctly charged $7.15. How
could this happen· Which property of the real numbers is in question in this case·

97. Exploration

Determine whether each of the following pairs of tasks are “commutative.” That is, does the order
in which they are performed produce the same result·

a)
Put on your coat; put on your hat.

b)
Put on your shirt; put on your coat.
Find another pair of “commutative” tasks and another pair of “noncommutative” tasks.