You and your friend are trying to solve this problem:

Question

(−4)×(5/7)×(−3/4)×(7/15)


Your friend says the best strategy is to do each operation in order from left to right following the order of operations. You see that changing the order of the numbers being multiplied will make the problem simpler. What fact can you use to convince your friend that your method is a valid way to solve the problem?

(1 point)
Responses

The Associative Property of Multiplication says that the way factors are grouped in a multiplication problem does not change the answer; a×(b×c)=(a×b)×c
.
The Associative Property of Multiplication says that the way factors are grouped in a multiplication problem does not change the answer; a times left parenthesis b times c right parenthesis equals left parenthesis a times b right parenthesis times c .

The order of operations can be ignored when multiplying.
The order of operations can be ignored when multiplying.

It is impossible to multiply the numbers in their current order.
It is impossible to multiply the numbers in their current order.

The Commutative Property of Multiplication says that changing the order in which you multiply the factors does not change the answer; a×b=b×a
.

Answer 1

To convince your friend that your method of changing the order of multiplication is valid, you can refer to the Commutative Property of Multiplication. The correct response would be:

The Commutative Property of Multiplication says that changing the order in which you multiply the factors does not change the answer; a×b=b×a.

This property allows you to rearrange the numbers being multiplied in any order without affecting the final product, which can simplify calculations.