The properties of addition are rules that explain how numbers can be added in different ways without changing the sum.
These properties work with all whole numbers and make addition easier to understand.
The commutative property says that the order of addends can be changed without changing the sum.
Think: “Changing the order does not change the answer.”
The associative property says that when three or more numbers are added, the way they are grouped does not change the sum.
Parentheses show the grouping, but the final answer stays the same.
The identity property says that adding zero to a number does not change the number.
Zero is called the “additive identity” because it does not change the value of the number.
We can use the properties of addition to solve problems more quickly and to check our work.
Using properties is like using shortcuts. They always work in addition and help you solve problems faster.