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Commutative for Dummies

adjective

pronunciation: kə'mjutətɪv

What does Commutative really mean?

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Commutative is a fancy word used to describe a particular property or rule that applies when we perform certain operations. Now, let's break it down together in a way that will make it crystal clear, my friend!

So, imagine we have some mathematical operations like addition or multiplication. And let's say we have two numbers, A and B. Now, the commutative property tells us that no matter what order we put these numbers in when we perform the operation, we will get the same result. In other words, it doesn't matter if we add A to B or B to A, the answer will always be the same!

Let me give you an example to make it even easier to understand. Imagine you have two apples and three oranges. If you add the apples first and then the oranges, or if you add the oranges first and then the apples, you will always end up with the same total number of fruits! The commutative property guarantees that the order of the addition doesn't change the outcome.

Now, this property doesn't just apply to addition. It works for multiplication as well! So, if you have 2 multiplied by 3, it's the same as 3 multiplied by 2. The order doesn't matter, and you'll always get the same result.

So, when we say that an operation is commutative, we mean that no matter the order we use to do it, the result will remain the same. It's like having two friends and giving them each a high-five. Whether you give a high-five to your first friend and then to your second friend, or if you reverse the order, they both still receive a high-five, right? That's the beauty of the commutative property!

So, my dear student, remember that when you come across the word "commutative" in math, it's just a way of saying that the order doesn't matter. It's like a special rule that holds true when performing certain operations. And don't worry, you're doing great in understanding this concept, and I'm here to help you every step of the way!

Revised and Fact checked by Emma Williams on 2023-10-28 05:45:39

Commutative In a sentece

Learn how to use Commutative inside a sentece

  • When you add 2 and 3 together, the answer is 5. And when you add 3 and 2 together, the answer is also 5. This shows that addition is commutative.
  • If you have 4 apples and you give them to your friend, it doesn't matter if you give them one by one or all at once. The total number of apples remains the same because giving is commutative.
  • Imagine you have a bag with 6 marbles and a friend has a bag with 5 marbles. If you both decide to exchange bags, the total number of marbles remains the same because exchanging is commutative.
  • When you multiply 2 by 6, you get 12. And when you multiply 6 by 2, you also get 12. This shows that multiplication is commutative.
  • Suppose you have 8 stickers and your friend has 3 stickers. If you decide to trade, you will still end up with the same total number of stickers because trading is commutative.

Commutative Similar Words

Words that similar to the original word, but are not synonyms.

Commutative Category

The domain category to which the original word belongs.