1. which number sentence shows the commutative property of addition? a. 9 + 3 = 12 b. 11 + 7 = 7 + 11 c. 3 * 9 = 27 d. 3 + (9 + 1) = (3 + 9) + 1 2. use the commutative property to identify which expression is equal to (4 + 7) * 3 a. 4 * 3 + * 3 b. 3 * (4 + 7) c. (3 * 4 + 7) d. (4 + 7 * 3)

The commutative property of addition means the order of the addends doesn't matter; we get the same sum.  In symbols



11 + 7 = 7 + 11, choice B, is a good illustration of commutativity.

The next part asks us to use the commutative property.  Looking at the choices, we see it's not the commutative property of addition we're to use, it's the commutative property of multiplication.  Let's write that generally first:



Applying that, (4 + 7) * 3 = 3*(4+7), again choice B.