Stage 2 · The Four Operations & Estimation

2.4.1 The Commutative Law

2.4 The Laws of Operations: An Easier Way to Compute

Point 1 of 5

Core idea

Swap two piles and the total stays the same, so a + b = b + a and a × b = b × a.

Module goal. Discover the commutative, associative, and distributive laws, and use them to rearrange expressions and speed up.

eastmath.com · 2.4 The Laws of Operations: An Easier Way to Compute · 2.4.1 The Commutative Law