Question

Juan used the expression 16 – 9 – 12 + 22 to find his profit for days 2 and 3. He rewrote the expression as 16 + (–9) + (–12) + 22. Juan can use the associative and commutative properties to rewrite the expression again. Explain why he had to use the additive inverse before he could use these properties.

Answer 1

The associative and commutative properties can be applied only to problems with addition. Juan had to change the subtraction to addition by adding the additive inverse.

Answer 2

Answer:

Associative property and commutative property true for addition, not true for subtraction.

Step-by-step explanation:

Associative property and commutative property true for addition.

i) a + (b + c) = (a + b) + c  ---> Associative property of addition

ii) a + b = b + a --> commutative property of addition.

These properties not true for subtraction.

That's the reason Juan used additive inverse before applying these property.

Hope this will helpful.

Thank you.