Children, in the world of mathematics there are some simple rules that we must learn follow. These rules are called Properties and they will be your guides into the realms of algebra and beyond. Learn them well, and you will find the answers…

4 + 5 = 5 + 4 is COMMUTATIVE, COMMUTATIVE
x + y = y + x is COMMUTATIVE, COMMUTATIVE
3 x 5 = 5 x 3 is COMMUTATIVE, COMMUTATIVE
Rearrange the numbers and get the same answer is COMMUTATIVE, COMMUTATIVE

(4 + 5) + 6 = (6 + 4) + 5 is ASSOCIATIVE, ASSOCIATIVE,
(5 + 3) + 9 = (9 + 5) + 3 is ASSOCIATIVE, ASSOCIATIVE,
Change the grouping but the answer doesn’t change is
ASSOCIATIVE, ASSOCIATIVE

4 x 53 = (4 x 50) + (4 x 3) it’s DISTRIBUTIVE, DISTRIBUTIVE
4 x 27 = (4 x 20) + (4 x 7) it’s DISTRIBUTIVE, DISTRIBUTIVE
Break a problem up into two other problems is
DISTRIBUTIVE, DISTRIBUTIVE

1 x 3 = 3 is the PROPERTY OF ONE, PROPERTY OF ONE
27 x 1 = 27 is the PROPERTY OF ONE, PROPERTY OF ONE
Multiply any number by one and you will get that number
THE PROPERTY OF ONE, THE PROPERTY OF ONE

1,000,000,000 x 0 = 0 is the PROPERTY OF ZERO, PROPERTY OF ZERO
17 x 0 = 0 the PROPERTY OF ZERO, PROPERTY OF ZERO
Multiply any number by ZERO you’ll get ZERO,
THE PROPERTY OF ZERO, THE PROPERTY OF ZERO