properties of addition

Properties of Addition

There are four mathematical properties which involve addition. The properties are the commutative, associative, additive identity and distributive properties.

Commutative property: When two numbers are added, the sum is the same regardless of the order of the addends. For example 4 + 2 = 2 + 4

Associative Property: When three or more numbers are added, the sum is the same regardless of the grouping of the addends. For example (2 + 3) + 4 = 2 + (3 + 4)

Additive Identity Property: The sum of any number and zero is the original 

number. For example 5 + 0 = 5.

Distributive property: The sum of two numbers times a third number is equal to the sum of each addend times the third number. For example 4 * (6 + 3) = 4*6 + 4*3