The following are true of the Commutative Property:

• It applies to addition and multiplication.


• The order of the addends does not change the sum.


• The order of the factors does not change the product.


• It cannot be applied to subtraction or division.

Click on the link below to see examples of the Commutative Property.

Commutative Property Card Sort Activity

(3 ∙ 2) ∙ 5 = 3 ∙ (2 ∙ 5)

5 + (3 + 4) = (5 + 3) + 4

These are examples of the Associative Property.

4 - 8 ≠ 8 - 4

4 ÷ 8 ≠ 8 ÷ 4

Subtraction and division are non-examples of operations that may be used with the Commutative Property.