Laws of elementary algebra

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    • Commutativity: When adding two numbers, it does not matter which number is given first.  
    • Identity element: Adding a number to zero returns that number.  
    • Inverse element: Adding a number to its negative returns zero.  
    • Inverse function: Subtraction is the inverse of addition.  
  • Multiplication
    • Associativity: When performing multiple multiplications, it does not matter which one is done first.  
    • Commutativity: When multiplying two numbers, it does not matter which number is given first.  
    • Distributivity
    • Identity element: Multiplying a number by one returns that number.  
    • Inverse element: Multiplying a number by its reciprocal returns one.  
    • Inverse function: Division is the inverse of multiplication.  

Laws of elementary algebra[1]

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Example: if   then  
 
  • Exponentiation is not a commutative operation.
    • Therefore exponentiation has a pair of reverse operations: logarithm and exponentiation with fractional exponents (e.g. square roots).
      • Examples: if   then   If   then  
    • The square roots of negative numbers do not exist in the real number system. (See: complex number system)
  • Associative property of addition:  
  • Associative property of multiplication:  
  • Distributive property of multiplication with respect to addition:  
  • Distributive property of exponentiation with respect to multiplication:  
  • How to combine exponents:  
  • Power to a power property of exponents:  

Laws of equality

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  • If   and  , then   (transitivity of equality).
  •   (reflexivity of equality).
  • If   then   (symmetry of equality).

Other laws

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  • If   and   then  
    • If   then   for any c (addition property of equality).
  • If   and   then   =  
    • If   then   for any c (multiplication property of equality).
  • If two symbols are equal, then one can be substituted for the other at will (substitution principle).
  • If   and   then   (transitivity of inequality).
  • If   then   for any c.
  • If   and   then  
  • If   and   then  
  1. ^ Mirsky, Lawrence (1990) An Introduction to Linear Algebra Library of Congress. p.72-3. ISBN 0-486-66434-1.