The order in which you add or multiply numbers also does not matter, for example: (4+5) +6 = 4 + (5+6) and (4x5) x6 = 4 x (5x6). This is called the associative property of addition and multiplication.
When numbers in brackets are multiplied by a number in front of the brackets, each number inside the brackets is affected. This property of numbers works for addition and subtraction, for example: 4(5 + 6) = (4 x 5) + (4 x 6) or 6(5 – 4) = (6 x 5) - (6 x 4). This property is called the distributive property of multiplication.
Distributive property
What is the answer to 2(4 + 3)?
The "2" outside the brackets is multiplied onto everything that is inside the brackets.
Addition and subtraction are called inverse operations. If you add and subtract the same amount from a number, you end up back where you started. These operations have an effect on each other, for example: 856 + 12 – 12 = 856.
Multiplication and division are called inverse operations. If you multiply and divide a number by the same amount, you end up back where you started as the operations have an inverse effect on each other, for example: 524 x 12 ÷ 12 = 524.