Properties of Multiplication — Answer Key
Part A: Multiple Choice
Circle the best answer for each question.
1. In Grade 3, which property lets you rewrite 8 x 7 as 7 x 8?
A) Associative property
B) Commutative property
C) Distributive property
D) Zero property
Changing the order of two factors is the commutative property of multiplication in Grade 3.
2. A Grade 3 student rewrites (2 x 3) x 5 as 2 x (3 x 5). Which property is used?
A) Commutative property
B) Zero property
C) Associative property
D) Identity property
Moving parentheses to regroup three factors is the associative property in Grade 3.
3. In Grade 3, which property is used when writing 6 x 9 as 6 x 10 - 6 x 1?
A) Distributive property
B) Identity property
C) Zero property
D) Commutative property
Breaking 9 into (10 - 1) and distributing 6 uses the distributive property in Grade 3.
4. A Grade 3 student writes 12 x 1 = 12 and 12 x 0 = 0. Which two properties are shown?
A) Commutative and associative
B) Associative and distributive
C) Identity and zero
D) Distributive and zero
12 x 1 = 12 is the identity property and 12 x 0 = 0 is the zero property in Grade 3.
Part B: Fill in the Blank
Write the correct answer on each line.
1. In Grade 3, 7 x 8 = 7 x 5 + 7 x 3, which uses the distributive property.
Breaking 8 into 5 + 3 and multiplying each part is the distributive property in Grade 3.
2. A Grade 3 student writes 4 x 6 = 6 x 4, which uses the commutative property.
Swapping the order of two factors is the commutative property in Grade 3.
3. In Grade 3, 100 x 1 = 100 shows the identity property.
Multiplying by 1 leaves the original factor unchanged, known as the identity property in Grade 3.
4. A Grade 3 learner writes (5 x 2) x 3 = 5 x (2 x 3) using the associative property.
Regrouping three factors with parentheses is the associative property in Grade 3.
5. In Grade 3, 348 x 0 = 0 uses the zero property.
Any Grade 3 factor times zero gives zero, which is the zero property of multiplication.