Properties of whole numbers

1.3 Properties of whole numbers

The commutative property of addition and multiplication

We say that addition and multiplication are commutative. This means that the numbers can be swapped around, so their order does not change the answer.

commutative property

changing the order of the numbers does not change the answer

For example, the sum does not change if we swap around these numbers:

• \(5 + 10 = 15\) and \(10 + 5 = 15\)
• \(150 + 25 = 175\) and \(25 + 150 = 175\)

The same is true for multiplication:

• \(5 \times 8 = 40\) and \(8 \times 5 = 40\)
• \(10 \times 120 = 1\ 200\) and \(120 \times 10 = 1\ 200\)

This does not work for subtraction and division, however: \(8 - 4 \neq 4 - 8\) and \(6 \div 2 \neq 2 \div 6\). This also does not work for exponents: \(2^{3} \neq 3^{2}\). Can you see why the answers are not the same in each of these examples?

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The associative (grouping) property of addition and multiplication

If three or more numbers must be multiplied, it does not matter which two of the numbers are multiplied first. In the same way, if three or more numbers must be added, it does not matter which two of the numbers are added first.

This is called the associative property of addition and multiplication. We can also say that addition and multiplication are associative.

associative property

when three or more numbers are added or multiplied, changing the order of the numbers does not change the answer

For example, the sum does not change if we group numbers together in different ways:

• \(4 + 7 + 5 + 6 = (4 + 7) + (5 + 6) = 11 + 11 = 22\)
• \(4 + 7 + 5 + 6 = (4 + 6) + (7 + 5) = 10 + 12 = 22\)

The same is true for multiplication:

• \(2 \times 12 \times 20 \times 3 = (2 \times 12) \times (20 \times 3) = 24 \times 60 = 1\ 440\)
• \(2 \times 12 \times 20 \times 3 = (2 \times 3) \times (12 \times 20) = 6 \times 240 = 1\ 440\)

Try to group the numbers differently. Do you get the same answer?

Let’s look at another example.

Lebogang and Nathi both must calculate \(25 \times 24\). They know that \(24 = 6 \times 4\).

• Lebogang calculates \(25 \times 4\) and then multiplies by \(6\).
• Nathi calculates \(25 \times 6\) and then multiplies by \(4\).

Will they get the same answer or not? Use your calculator to check:

• Lebogang: \(25 \times 4 \times 6 = 100 \times 6 = 600\)
• Nathi: \(25 \times 6 \times 4 = 150 \times 4 = 600\)

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The distributive property of multiplication over addition and subtraction

The distributive property is a useful property because it allows us to do this:

Both answers are \(18\). Notice that we must use brackets in the first example to show that the addition operation must be done first. Otherwise, we would have done the multiplication first.

For example, the expression \(3 \times 2 + 4\) means “multiply \(3\) by \(2\); then add \(4\)”. It does not mean “add \(2\) and \(4\); then multiply by \(3\)”.

The expression \(4 + 3 \times 2\) also means “multiply \(3\) by \(2\); then add \(4\)”.

If you wish to specify that addition or subtraction should be done first, that part of the expression should be enclosed in brackets.

The distributive property can be used to break up a difficult multiplication problem into smaller parts. For example, it can be used to make it easier to calculate \(6 \times 204\):

\(6 \times 204\) can be rewritten as \(6 \times (200 + 4)\) (Remember the brackets!)

\[\begin{align} 6 \times 204 &= 6 \times 200 + 6 \times 4 \\ &= 1\ 200 + 24 \\ &= 1\ 224 \end{align}\]

Multiplication can also be distributed over subtraction. For example, to calculate \(7 \times 96\):

\[\begin{align} 7 \times 96 &= 7 \times (100 - 4) \\ &= 7 \times 100 - 7 \times 4 \\ &= 700 - 28 \\ &= 672 \end{align}\]

We can write the distributive property of multiplication over addition and subtraction using formulas:

• \(a(b + c) = a \times b + a \times c\)
• \(a(b - c) = a \times b - a \times c\)

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Special properties when calculating with whole numbers

Think of an inverse operation as something that “reverses” another operation, or cancels it out.

• Addition and subtraction as inverse operations

  Addition and subtraction are inverses of each other. If you start with a number, then add and subtract the same number, the original number stays the same. For example, \(55 + 10 = 65\) and \(65 - 10 = 55\). So you are back to the original number after adding and subtracting \(10\).

• Multiplication and division as inverse operations

  Multiplication and division are inverses of each other. If you start with a number, then multiply and divide it by the same number, the original number stays the same. For example, \(15 \times 3 = 45\) and \(45 \div 3 = 15\). So you are back to the original number after multiplying and dividing by \(3\).

Numbers \(0\) and \(1\) also have important special properties that you need to remember when doing calculations.

• The additive property of \(0\)

  When we add zero to any number, the answer is that number.

• The division property of \(0\)

  Any number divided by \(0\) is undefined. For example, \(5 \div 0 =\) undefined (not possible to calculate).

• The multiplicative property of \(0\)

  Any number multiplied by \(0\) is \(0\). For example, \(15 \times 0 = 0\).

• The multiplicative property of \(1\)

  When we multiply any number by \(1\), the answer is that number. For example, \(36\ 500 \times 1 = 36\ 500\).

• The division property of \(1\)

  When dividing by \(1\), the answer remains the same. For example, \(135 \div 1 = 135\).

Be careful, \(1 \div 135 \neq 135\)!

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