Basic Arithmetic Operations and Properties

Question-and-answer flashcards reviewing the commutative and associative properties of addition and basic sign rules for addition and subtraction.

What does the Commutative Property of Addition state?

Changing the order of the does not change the sum (a + b = b + a).

What does the Associative Property of Addition state?

Changing the grouping of the addends does not change the sum ((a + b) + c = a + (b + c)).

In basic sign rules, what is the sign of the result when a positive number is added to another positive number (+ +)?

The result is positive.

According to common sign rules, what happens when a positive number is added to a negative number (+ −)?

The sign of the result depends on which absolute value is larger; the larger absolute value’s sign prevails.

When a negative number is subtracted by a positive number (− − +), what is the typical sign of the result?

The result remains negative because you are moving further left on the number line.