SUBTRACTION IS NOT COMMUTATIVE Commutative means you can switch around the numbers you are using WITHOUT changing the result. Addition is commutative. You CAN switch around the numbers you are adding and still get the SAME answer to the addition problem. 5 + 3 = 8 and 3 + 5 = 8 5 + 3 = 3 + 5 You can add numbers in ANY order and still get the same answer every time. Subtraction, however, is NOT commutative. You CAN’T switch around the numbers in a subtraction problem without changing the answer to the subtraction problem. 5 – 3 is NOT equal to 3-5 5 – 3 = 2 3 – 5 = -2 (-2 is a negative number, and you’ll learn more about negative numbers when you get older.) © Copyright NewPath Learning. All Rights Reserved. Permission is granted for the purchaser to print copies for non-commercial educational purposes only. Visit us at www.NewPathLearning.com.