The Search for the five properties of multiplication…

As Detective Jones began his day, he soon realized that a new case had been

assigned to him…it was the case of the “Missing

Properties”…

“Missing Properties”…”, he said, “This will be an easy

case to solve.”

He called in his good friend, Buster, to assist him in his

search!Woof!

Off they went on their journey…first stop, the police station. There was the Zero

Property…he was being forced to change by being multiplied with another number, but he

REFUSED!“ I will not change to another

number! I am staying right where I am!

0 x any number = 0

Next stop was the beauty salon where the detective and Buster found Identity Property

getting her hair cut!

I still look the SAME!

“I can change my hair, my nails and get braces, but I’ll still be the SAME number!Any number times 1 = any

number

1 x 5 = 543 x 1 = 43

“Ok, Buster, let’s go find the Commutative Property!”

The two detectives set off and they found the

commutative property traveling to the beach.

“Can’t you see I am commuting”, the property

said as the detectives stopped him.

“Commuting means to travel and we can change places, but we still remain

the same numbers and commute to the same

place!”

2 x 5 = 5 x 24 x 2 x 6 = 6 x 2 x 4

So off the detectives went to find the Associative Properties.

They were hanging out with their friends at the park. “Hey, detectives”, they said, “We’re hanging out with each other

and having a great time! But, we always ask our parents first if we can come and hang out!

The Associative Property says that numbers can hang out with different groups of friends, but they all stick

together!

2 + (5 + 3) = (2 + 5) + 3(3 x 4) x 7 = 3 x (4 x 7)

“Ok, Buster, we’re on our last search. Let’s find the Distributive Property so we can go home for the day.”The detectives found the

Distributive Property hanging out at the YMCA where there was lots of

stretching going on!

The Distributive Property says that a math sentence

can be stretched out to show all of its parts!

2 x (4 + 6) = (2 x 4) + (2 x 6)

4 x (8 + 3) = (4 x 8) + (4 x 3)

“Whew, Buster, what a day!” “You got that right, Jones, but we solved the

case of the Missing Properties!” “Let’s go for a

hot dog!”Woof!

Let’s review….

Identity Property

Any number x’s 1= that number

Zero Property

Any number times 0 = 0

Commutative Property

5 + 3 = 3 + 5

Associative Property

(9 + 4) + 5 = 9 + ( 4 + 5)

(Parentheses are just moved around!)

Distributive Property

5 x (6 + 2) = (5 x 6) + (5 x 2)

Thank you for helping me!Woof, woof!