Question

Which of the following statements uses the commutative property of addition?

2 + (3 + 4) = (2 + 3) + 4
2 + (3 + 4) = (2 + 3) + (2 + 4)
2 + (3 + 4) = 2 + (4 + 3)

Answer 1

Do you know the definition of commutative?

Answer 2

It means that when performing an operator of some sort, the order in which you do it in does not matter.

Answer 3

But if the order does not matter then all of them are a possible answer?

Answer 4

Ahh here is where you have to be careful :P . The Brackets makes a difference.

Answer 5

Oh I see. So it would be the last answer, right?

Answer 6

2 + (3 + 4) = (2 + 3) + 4

We got 3+4 and then add 2. Or we got 2+3 and add 4. We are essentially taking the same sum but in a different order.

2 + (3 + 4) = (2 + 3) + (2 + 4)

We got 3+4 and then add 2. However, we do not perform the same order that we performed on the first case.

2 + (3 + 4) = 2 + (4 + 3)

Same as the first.

Answer 7

1st and last actually because the first 1 uses the same idea.

Answer 8

But I can only choose one answer. So The first one would be the one I should lean more towards?

Answer 9

Last one is more "better" actually.

Answer 10

Wait!!!

Answer 11

Nvm, the first one... The order changes.

Answer 12

I am a bit slow today.

Answer 13

Because you perform the same thing in a different order but the both produce the same result.

Answer 14

Thats what I was thinking when you said the parenthesis matter. Thank you so much @Dido525 .

Answer 15

For the 3rd one, 3+4 and 43 is the same thing but it's not performed in a different order.

Answer 16

4+3*

Answer 17

yeah not a problem :) .