Question

Which expression uses the commutative property to make it easier to evaluate (- 6/5) • 11 • 5/3?

a) 5/3 • 11 • (- 6/5)
b) (- 6/5) • 5/3 • 11
c) 11 • 5/3 • (- 6/5)
d) 5/3 • (- 6/5) • 11

Answer 1

The expression that uses the commutative property effectively is option (d), which rearranges the numbers to simplify the fractions first before multiplying by the remaining number, yielding -22 as the final result.

Step-by-step explanation:

The commutative property of multiplication states that the order in which two numbers are multiplied does not change their product. To make the expression (-6/5) • 11 • 5/3 easier to evaluate using the commutative property, the goal is to rearrange the numbers so that we can simplify more easily.

Option (d) 5/3 • (- 6/5) • 11 uses the commutative property effectively because it places the fractions 5/3 and (- 6/5) next to each other. These fractions can be easily simplified before multiplying by 11:

5/3 • (- 6/5) = (- 6/3) = -2
Now, multiply the simplified result by 11:
-2 • 11 = -22

Hence, option (d) 5/3 • (- 6/5) • 11 is the correct choice because it applies the commutative property of multiplication to make the calculation simpler.