Which operation is commutative?

Unlock all questions

This demo includes only 20 questions. Upgrade to access hundreds of questions, flashcards, exam simulations, and disable ads.

Full question bankExam simulationsFlashcards
From $25.99Unlock all

Prepare for the Praxis Middle School Mathematics Exam with quizzes. Study with flashcards and multiple choice questions. Each question provides hints and detailed explanations. Ensure success on your test!

Multiple Choice

Which operation is commutative?

Explanation:
The main idea tested here is that changing the order of the addends doesn't affect the sum. In other words, for any two numbers a and b, a + b = b + a. This is why addition is commutative. For example, 3 + 7 equals 7 + 3, both giving 10. This property holds no matter which numbers you choose, which is why addition is the operation that shows the commutative behavior. Other operations don’t behave that way in general. For division, 8 ÷ 2 is 4, but 2 ÷ 8 is 0.25. For subtraction, 9 − 4 is 5, while 4 − 9 is −5. For exponentiation, 2^3 is 8, but 3^2 is 9. These examples show why the commutative property doesn’t apply to those operations.

The main idea tested here is that changing the order of the addends doesn't affect the sum. In other words, for any two numbers a and b, a + b = b + a. This is why addition is commutative. For example, 3 + 7 equals 7 + 3, both giving 10. This property holds no matter which numbers you choose, which is why addition is the operation that shows the commutative behavior.

Other operations don’t behave that way in general. For division, 8 ÷ 2 is 4, but 2 ÷ 8 is 0.25. For subtraction, 9 − 4 is 5, while 4 − 9 is −5. For exponentiation, 2^3 is 8, but 3^2 is 9. These examples show why the commutative property doesn’t apply to those operations.

More Multiple Choice Questions
Subscribe

Get the latest from Passetra

You can unsubscribe at any time. Read our privacy policy