about the commutative properety of multiplication

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Posted by T.Gracken on October 18, 2002 at 10:02:36:

In Reply to: Re: Reading out decimal numbers posted by MathBard on October 18, 2002 at 00:00:51:

: : so if we have (1/2)x [but don't use parenthesis; as when writing with pencil], then we also have x 1/2 [commutative property of multiplication].
: NOPE. The communative prop. applies to moving around TERMS. In the above above example you didn't really (although it SEEMS the same) commute the terms. there IS the procedure about stating the coeeficient BEFORE the variable for the very reason of avoiding the confusion to which you allude.
: : does this mean that one half "x" is the same as "x and a half"?

: I am an English teacher who got stuck teaching Algebra (because i can).

I certainly can't argue correct English, but I do know the commutative property of multiplication.

for your reference: the commutative property of multiplication is: if each of A and B is a number, then A*B = B*A

so in my example, (1/2)x = x(1/2) IS justified by (none other than) the commutative property of multiplication.

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Re: about the commutative properety of multiplication MathBard 11:58:15 10/18/02 (1)
- Re: about the commutative properety of multiplication T.Gracken 18:00:12 10/18/02 (0)
Re: about the commutative properety of multiplication MathBard 11:52:10 10/18/02 (0)

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: : : : so if we have (1/2)x [but don't use parenthesis; as when writing with pencil], then we also have x 1/2 [commutative property of multiplication]. : : NOPE. The communative prop. applies to moving around TERMS. In the above above example you didn't really (although it SEEMS the same) commute the terms. there IS the procedure about stating the coeeficient BEFORE the variable for the very reason of avoiding the confusion to which you allude. : : : does this mean that one half "x" is the same as "x and a half"? : : I am an English teacher who got stuck teaching Algebra (because i can). : I certainly can't argue correct English, but I do know the commutative property of multiplication. : for your reference: the commutative property of multiplication is: if each of A and B is a number, then A*B = B*A : so in my example, (1/2)x = x(1/2) IS justified by (none other than) the commutative property of multiplication.

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