- The Commutative Property of Multiplication
- The Associative Property of Multiplication
- The Multiplicative Identity
We will now examine three simple but very important properties of multiplication.
Inside Collection (Textbook): Derived copy of Fundamentals of Mathematics
Summary: This module is from Fundamentals of Mathematics by Denny Burzynski and Wade Ellis, Jr. This module discusses properties of multiplication of whole numbers. By the end of the module students should be able to understand and appreciate the commutative and associative properties of multiplication and understand why 1 is the multiplicative identity.
We will now examine three simple but very important properties of multiplication.
The product of two whole numbers is the same regardless of the order of the factors.
Multiply the two whole numbers.

The numbers 6 and 7 can be multiplied in any order. Regardless of the order they are multiplied, the product is 42.
Use the commutative property of multiplication to find the products in two ways.


If three whole numbers are multiplied, the product will be the same if the first two are multiplied first and then that product is multiplied by the third, or if the second two are multiplied first and that product is multiplied by the first. Note that the order of the factors is maintained.
It is a common mathematical practice to use parentheses to show which pair of numbers is to be combined first.
Multiply the whole numbers.
Use the associative property of multiplication to find the products in two ways.

168

165,564
The whole number 1 is called the multiplicative identity, since any whole number multiplied by 1 is not changed.
Multiply the whole numbers.
Multiply the whole numbers.
843
For the following problems, multiply the numbers.
234
4,032
326,000
252
21,340
8,316
For the following 4 problems, show that the quantities yield the same products by performing the multiplications.
The fact that
property of multiplication.
associative
The fact that
property of multiplication.
Use the numbers 7 and 9 to illustrate the commutative property of multiplication.
Use the numbers 6, 4, and 7 to illustrate the associative property of multiplication.
((Reference)) In the number 84,526,098,441, how many millions are there?
6
((Reference)) Replace the letter m with the whole number that makes the addition true.
((Reference)) Use the numbers 4 and 15 to illustrate the commutative property of addition.
((Reference)) Find the product.
((Reference)) Specify which of the digits 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 8,10 are divisors of the number 2,244.
2, 3, 4, 6
"Used as supplemental materials for developmental math courses."