Answer:
False
Explanation:
The property a + b = b + a is the Commutative Property.
Using our own words, this means that changing the order of the terms we are adding does not change the sum result.
Example (using numbers).
2 + 7 = 7 + 2
On the other hand, the Distributive Property states that:
a . (b + c) = a . b + a . c
Using our own words, this means that multiplying a term by a group of terms added together is the same as doing each multiplication separately.
Example (using numbers).
2 . (3 + 8) = 2 . 3 + 2 . 8
Please find additional comments below:
1. One big difference between Commutative and Distributive Property, is that the first one only involves the addition, while the second one involves both addition and multiplication.
2. We tend to apply the Distributive Property is only one direction. We have a . (b + c) and we rewrite this expression as a . b + a . c (for example, when simplifying expressions)
But sometimes, it is useful to apply the property in the opposite direction. Starting with a . b + a . c, then we can collapse this expression to a . (b + c) (for example, when factoring expressions)