Commutative property of addition
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Commutative property of addition: skill guide
| Objective | Each equation shows one addition expression and then reverses its addends on the other side of the equals sign. |
|---|---|
| Grade | Grade 1 |
| Standard | CCSS.MATH.CONTENT.1.OA.B.3 |
| Difficulty | Developing · Abstract |
| Representation | Numerical equation |
| Practice format | Interactive, account-free practice with immediate feedback |
Objective
Each equation shows one addition expression and then reverses its addends on the other side of the equals sign.
What this practice covers
Each equation shows one addition expression and then reverses its addends on the other side of the equals sign. Learners fill the blank to demonstrate that a + b has the same value as b + a.
Standards alignment
Supports Common Core: CCSS.MATH.CONTENT.1.OA.B.3 — Apply properties of operations as strategies to add and subtract.
Who it’s for
This practice is for Grade 1 learners who can add within 10 and are ready to use an arithmetic property to reason about related facts.
What to know first
- Learners should understand addition as joining parts, read the plus and equals signs, and find small sums. They do not need to know the term commutative property in advance.
Difficulty and scaffolding
Developing · Abstract stage
Problem representations
- Numerical equation
Three worked examples
- 5 + 1 = 1 + 5.
- 3 + 6 = 6 + 3.
- 2 + 7 = 7 + 2.
Likely misconceptions
- A learner may enter the total in the blank or change both addends. Point out that the addends trade places: the number before the first plus sign must appear after the second plus sign.
Hints and explanations
- 5 + 1 = 1 + 5.
- 3 + 6 = 6 + 3.
- 2 + 7 = 7 + 2.
What to practice next
Next, use the equals sign to balance two different addition expressions in Equal sums.
Editorial review
Reviewed by Brilliant’s curriculum team. Exercises are generated within defined difficulty ranges and checked against verified answer rules.
Commutative property of addition FAQs
What does commutative mean?
It means the order can change without changing the result. In addition, 4 + 3 and 3 + 4 both equal 7.
Does this work for subtraction?
No. Subtraction is not commutative: 5 − 2 is 3, but 2 − 5 is not 3. The order matters in subtraction.
Why learn related facts?
If a learner knows 6 + 2 = 8, the commutative property gives 2 + 6 = 8 without learning a separate result from scratch.
What should be practiced next?
Practice balancing different sums with the same total and use commutativity to choose an easier order for counting on.