Identity and Equality

Properties

Identity and Equality Properties

Properties refer to rules that indicate a standard
procedure or method to be followed.

A proof is a demonstration of the truth of a

statement in mathematics.

Properties or rules in mathematics are the result

from testing the truth or validity of something by

experiment or trial to establish a proof.

Therefore, every mathematical problem from the

easiest to the more complex can be solved by
following step by step procedures that are
identified as mathematical properties.

Identity Properties
Additive Identity Property
Multiplicative Identity Property
Multiplicative Identity Property of Zero
Multiplicative Inverse Property

Additive Identity Property

For any number a, a + 0 = 0 + a = a.
The sum of any number and zero is equal to
that number.

The number zero is called the additive identity.

Example:
If a = 5 then 5 + 0 = 0 + 5 = 5.

Multiplicative Identity Property

For any number a, a 1 = 1 a = a.
The product of any number and one is equal to
that number.

The number one is called the multiplicative

identity.

Example:

If a = 6 then 6 1 = 1 6 = 6.

Multiplicative Property of Zero

For any number a, a 0 = 0 a = 0.
The product of any number and zero is
equal to zero.

Example:

If a = 6, then 6 0 = 0 6 = 0.

Multiplicative Inverse Property

For every non-zero number, a/b,
a b
1
b a

Two numbers whose product is 1 are called

multiplicative inverses or reciprocals.

Zero has no reciprocal because any number times 0 is 0.

Example:

3 4
1
4 3
4
3
Thefraction isthereciprocalof .
3
4
Thetwofractionsaremultiplicativeinversesofeachother.

Equality Properties
Equality Properties allow you to compute with expressions on both
sides of an equation by performing identical operations on both sides
of the equal sign. The basic rules to solving equations is this:
* Whatever you do to one side of an equation; You must perform the
same operation(s) with the same number or expression on the other
side of the equals sign.

Reflexive Property of Equality

Symmetric Property of Equality
Transitive Property of Equality
Substitution Property of Equality
Addition Property of Equality *
Multiplication Property of Equality *

Reflexive Property of Equality

For
Forany
anynumber
numbera,
a, aa == a.
a.
The
The reflexive
reflexive property
propertyof
of equality
equality says
says that
that any
any
real
real number
numberisis equal
equal to
to itself.
itself.
Many
Manymathematical
mathematical statements
statements and
and algebraic
algebraic
properties
properties are
arewritten
written in
in if-then
if-then form
form when
when
describing
describing the
the rule(s)
rule(s) or
orgiving
giving an
an example.
example.
The
The hypothesis
hypothesis isis the
the part
part following
following if,
if, and
and the
the
conclusion
conclusion isis the
the part
part following
following then.
then.
IfIf aa == aa ;; then
then 77 == 7;
7; then
then 5.2
5.2 == 5.2.
5.2.

Symmetric Property of Equality

For
Forany
anynumbers
numbers aaand
andb,
b,ifif aa==b,
b,then
thenbb==a.
a.
The
Thesymmetric
symmetricproperty
propertyof
ofequality
equalitysays
saysthat
thatififone
one

quantity
quantityequals
equalsaasecond
secondquantity,
quantity,then
thenthe
thesecond
second
quantity
quantityalso
alsoequals
equalsthe
thefirst.
first.
Many
Manymathematical
mathematicalstatements
statementsand
andalgebraic
algebraic
properties
propertiesare
arewritten
writtenin
in if-then
if-thenform
formwhen
when
describing
describingthe
therule(s)
rule(s)or
orgiving
givingan
anexample.
example.
The
Thehypothesis
hypothesisisisthe
thepart
partfollowing
following if,
if,and
andthe
the
conclusion
conclusionisisthe
thepart
partfollowing
following then.
then.
IfIf10
10==77++3;
3;then
then 77+3
+3==10.
10.

IfIf aa== bb

then
then

bb == a.
a.

Transitive Property of Equality

For
Forany
anynumbers
numbersa,a,bband
andc,c,ifif aa==bband
andbb==c,c,then
thenaa==c.c.
The
Thetransitive
transitiveproperty
propertyof
ofequality
equalitysays
saysthat
thatififone
onequantity
quantity
equals
equalsaasecond
secondquantity,
quantity,and
andthe
thesecond
secondquantity
quantityequals
equalsaa
third
thirdquantity,
quantity,then
thenthe
thefirst
firstand
andthird
thirdquantities
quantitiesare
areequal.
equal.

Many
Manymathematical
mathematicalstatements
statementsand
andalgebraic
algebraicproperties
propertiesare
are
written
writtenin
inif-then
if-thenform
formwhen
whendescribing
describingthe
therule(s)
rule(s)or
orgiving
giving
an
anexample.
example.

The
Thehypothesis
hypothesisisisthe
thepart
partfollowing
followingif,
if,and
andthe
theconclusion
conclusionisis
the
thepart
partfollowing
followingthen.
then.

IfIf88++44==12
12and
and12
12==77++5,5,then
then88++44==77++5.5.
IfIf

aa== bb and
and bb == cc,, then
then

aa==c.c.

Substitution Property of Equality

IfIfaa==b,b,then
thenaamay
maybe
bereplaced
replacedby
bybbininany
anyexpression.
expression.
The
Thesubstitution
substitutionproperty
propertyof
ofequality
equalitysays
saysthat
thataaquantity
quantitymay
maybe
be
substituted
substitutedby
byits
itsequal
equalininany
anyexpression.
expression.
Many
Manymathematical
mathematicalstatements
statementsand
andalgebraic
algebraicproperties
propertiesare
are
written
writtenininif-then
if-thenform
formwhen
whendescribing
describingthe
therule(s)
rule(s)or
orgiving
givingan
an
example.
example.
The
Thehypothesis
hypothesisisisthe
thepart
partfollowing
followingif,
if,and
andthe
theconclusion
conclusionisisthe
the
part
partfollowing
followingthen.
then.
IfIf88++44==77++5;5;since
since88++44==12
12or
or77++55==12;
12;

Then
Then we
wecan
cansubstitute
substituteeither
eithersimplification
simplificationinto
intothe
theoriginal
original
mathematical
mathematicalstatement.
statement.

Addition Property of Equality

IfIfaa==b,b,then
thenaa++cc==bb++ccor
oraa++(-c)
(-c)==bb++(-c)
(-c)
The
Theaddition
additionproperty
propertyof
ofequality
equalitysays
saysthat
thatififyou
youmay
mayadd
addor
or
subtract
subtractequal
equalquantities
quantitiesto
toeach
eachside
sideof
ofthe
theequation
equation&&still
stillhave
have
equal
equalquantities.
quantities.

In
Inif-then
if-thenform:
form:

IfIf66==66;;then
then66++33==66++33or
or66++(-3)
(-3)==66++(-3).
(-3).
Notice,
Notice,that
thatafter
afteradding
adding33or
or-3
-3to
toboth
bothsides,
sides,the
thenumbers
numbers
are
arestill
stillequal.
equal. This
Thisproperty
propertywill
willbe
bevery
veryimportant
importantwhen
whenwe
we
learn
learnto
tosolve
solveequations!
equations!

Multiplication Property of Equality

IfIfaa==b,b,then
thenac
ac==bc
bc
The
Themultiplication
multiplicationproperty
propertyof
ofequality
equalitysays
saysthat
thatififyou
youmay
may
multiply
multiplyequal
equalquantities
quantitiesto
toeach
eachside
sideof
ofthe
theequation
equation&
&still
still
have
haveequal
equalquantities.
quantities.

In
Inif-then
if-thenform:
form:

IfIf66==66;;then
then66**33==66**3.3.
Notice,
Notice,that
thatafter
aftermultiplying
multiplying33to
toboth
bothsides,
sides,the
thenumbers
numbersare
are
still
stillequal.
equal. This
Thisproperty
propertywill
willbe
bevery
veryimportant
importantwhen
whenwe
we
learn
learnto
tosolve
solveequations!
equations!