Mathematics Properties a = a If something is equal to its identical twin Reflexive Property a = b & b = a If something flipped sides of the equal sign Symmetric Property If two items are equal to a third item, the two are a = b, c = b so a = c Transitive Property equal If you reversed the order of addition or a+b = b+a Commutative Property multiplication If you changed a grouping rearranged a+(b+c) = (a+b)+c parenthesis, but kept everything else in the Associative Property same order If a=b then If you added the same non-zero # to both sides Addition Property a+c = b+c If you multiplied the same nonzero # to both If a = b ac = bc Multiplication Property sides you have used the a + 0 = a If you added 0 to get the same # back Additive Identity (a) 1 = a If you multiplied by 1 to get the same # back Multiplicative Identity a + (-a) = 0 If you added opposite #’s and ended with 0 Property of Opposites 1 (b) /b=1 If you multiplied by a reciprocal to get 1 Property of Reciprocals a(b+c) = ab+ac If you multiplied a # into or pulled a # out of Distributive Property qr+rs = (q+s)r parenthesis Multiplication Property (a)0 = 0 If you multiplied by 0 and got 0 of 0 If you multiplied by (-1) and got the opposite of Multiplicative Property W(-1) = -w what you started with of (-1) If you have stated that ab Comparison Property a < b, c is +, then If you multiplied an inequality by a positive # and 1st Multiplication ac < bc maintained the inequality Property of Order a < b, c is –, then ac If you multiplied as inequality by a negative # 2nd Multiplication > bc and reversed the inequality Property of Order a+c = b+c then If you cancelled the same quantity from both Cancellation Property a = b sides of an equation (by subtracting) of Addition If you cancelled the same nonzero quantity from Cancellation Property ac = bc so a = b both sides of an equation (by division) of Multiplication ab = 0 if a = 0 or If a product is zero, so you know that one of the Zero Product Property b = 0 factors has to be zero If you changed a division to multiplication by a a/ = (a)1/ Definition of Division b b reciprocal If you have switched from adding a negative to Definition of a + (-b) = a - b just subtraction, or vice versa Subtraction If you have either broken apart exponents or 2 (x) x = x created an exponent by multiplying a number by Definition of Exponents itself If you have replaced one statement with an equivalent one and no other property or Substitution Property definition works