Which equation shows the commutative property of addition?

Which equation shows the commutative property of addition?

• A. A + B = B + A
• B. A + B = A + B
• C. A + (-A) = 0
• D. A + 0 = A

Answer: (A)

The commutative property of addition means you can switch the order of the addends and still get the same sum. The equation that shows this is A + B = B + A because it states that adding A and B in either order yields the same result. This idea is handy when simplifying or rearranging expressions, since it lets you place terms in the most convenient order. For example, 3 + 5 equals 5 + 3, both giving 8. The other expressions illustrate different ideas: A + B = A + B just repeats the same sum and doesn’t demonstrate changing the order; A + (-A) = 0 shows the additive inverse property; A + 0 = A shows the identity property of addition.

The commutative property of addition means you can switch the order of the addends and still get the same sum. The equation that shows this is A + B = B + A because it states that adding A and B in either order yields the same result.

This idea is handy when simplifying or rearranging expressions, since it lets you place terms in the most convenient order. For example, 3 + 5 equals 5 + 3, both giving 8.

The other expressions illustrate different ideas: A + B = A + B just repeats the same sum and doesn’t demonstrate changing the order; A + (-A) = 0 shows the additive inverse property; A + 0 = A shows the identity property of addition.