Understand Commutative Laws with Algebra

In this activity, we are going to look at  some rules we use with number and also with algebra.

 

They are called commutative laws - they sound painful, but they are really easy for you!

It simply means that you can swap around the calculation and still get the same answer.

 

It works for addition

2 + 3 = 3 + 2

Can you see they are swapped, but the answer is the same?

 

It works for multiplication

2 x 3 = 3 x 2 

Again, these can be swapped around and the answer is the same.

 

It does not work for subtraction.

3 - 2 is not equal to 2 - 2

So subtraction is not commutative.

 

It does not work for division.

3 ÷ 2 is not equal to 2 ÷ 3

So division is not commutative.

 

Easy right?

 

 

You already know this law using numbers, but sometimes (especially with division) people write them the wrong way round.

 

Let's try some questions!