MHB How to Justify Each Step Using Commutativity and Associativity?

Thread starter happyprimate
Start date May 19, 2021

AI Thread Summary

The discussion focuses on verifying the expression (a-b)+(c-d) = (a+c)+(-b-d) using the properties of associativity and commutativity. The user demonstrates each step of the transformation, applying associativity to regroup terms and commutativity to rearrange them. The final expression confirms that the original and transformed equations are equivalent. The verification process emphasizes the importance of these mathematical properties in simplifying expressions. Overall, the approach effectively illustrates how to justify each step in the equation.

May 19, 2021

happyprimate

Exercise 3 Chapter 1 Basic Mathematics Serge Lang

Verifying my answer.

My answer:

(a-b)+(c-d) = (a+c)+(-b-d)

Let p = (a-b)+(c-d) We need to show that p = (a+c)+(-b-d)

(a-b)+(c-d)

a+(-b+(c-d)) Associativity

a+((-b+c)-d) Associativity

a+((c-b)-d) Commutativity

((a+c)-b)-d) Associativity

(a+c)+(-b-d) Associativity

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May 23, 2021

Greg

Gold Member

MHB

Looks good to me.

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