Difference between revisions of "Commutative property"
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In mathematics, a binary operation <math>*</math> on a set '''A''' is said to be commutative if for all <math>x,y</math> in '''A''' we have <math>x*y=y*x</math>. An Example of a commutative operation is addition in the [[real numbers]]. When a [[group (mathematics)|group]]'s operation is commutative, it is said to be [[abelian]]. | In mathematics, a binary operation <math>*</math> on a set '''A''' is said to be commutative if for all <math>x,y</math> in '''A''' we have <math>x*y=y*x</math>. An Example of a commutative operation is addition in the [[real numbers]]. When a [[group (mathematics)|group]]'s operation is commutative, it is said to be [[abelian]]. | ||
| − | In | + | In laymen's terms, an equation is commutative when the constants or variables can be moved around an operation without changing the answer (e.g. 1 + 2 = 2 + 1 or 2 * 3 = 3 * 2) |
[[Category:Mathematics]] | [[Category:Mathematics]] | ||
Revision as of 15:44, April 24, 2007
In mathematics, a binary operation <math>*</math> on a set A is said to be commutative if for all <math>x,y</math> in A we have <math>x*y=y*x</math>. An Example of a commutative operation is addition in the real numbers. When a group's operation is commutative, it is said to be abelian.
In laymen's terms, an equation is commutative when the constants or variables can be moved around an operation without changing the answer (e.g. 1 + 2 = 2 + 1 or 2 * 3 = 3 * 2)