Question

Kanisha has x green apples and y red apples.

Which statement explains why x + y and y + x will each find the total number of apples that Kanisha has?

Answer 1

The commutative property of addition states that the order in which numbers are added does not affect the sum. Thus, whether you add the green apples (x) first and then the red apples (y) or add the red apples (y) first and then the green apples (x), you will always get the same total number of apples. Therefore, both x + y and y + x will each find the total number of apples that Kanisha has.