Question

Rashal is adding the expression below. –3 + [(–7) + (–6)] First, he rewrites the expression. [–3 + (–7)] + (–6) Which number property did Rashal use to rewrite the expression?

associative property
commutative property
distributive property
identity property

Answer 1

The answer is Associative property.

Answer 2

To rewrite the expression –3 + [(–7) + (–6)] as [–3 + (–7)] + (–6) , Rashal uses associative property.

Explanation:

Given : Rashal is adding the expression below. –3 + [(–7) + (–6)]

First, he rewrites the expression. [–3 + (–7)] + (–6)

We have to state which number property did Rashal use to rewrite the expression.

For a , b and c be integers, the following are the property under addition,

• associative property :
  `a+(b+c)= (a+b)+c`

• commutative property :
  `a+b=b+a`

• distributive property :
  `a(b+c)=ab+ac`

• identity property: for 0 be the identity under addition.
  `a+0=0+a`

Thus, To rewrite the expression –3 + [(–7) + (–6)] as [–3 + (–7)] + (–6) , Rashal uses associative property.