Final answer:
The commutative property of addition was used to transition from step 2 to step 3.
Step-by-step explanation:
The property of real numbers used to transition from step 2 to step 3 is the commutative property of addition (option C). This property states that the order in which numbers are added does not affect the sum.
For example, 2 + 3 is the same as 3 + 2.