How to use this sheet

  • Have the child check each property with the numbers, working both sides out, before naming it.
  • Use arrays for the commutative property: turning the array does not change how many.
  • For the distributive property, split one number into friendly parts, such as 7 × 6 as 5 × 6 plus 2 × 6.

Common mistakes

  • Thinking any number times 0 is the number itself. Zero groups of anything is zero.
  • Using the distributive property on only one part: 3 × (4 + 2) written as 12 + 2. Multiply both parts.
  • Mixing up the names. Commutative is changing the order; associative is changing the grouping.

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