Which property allows you to change the order of addition?

The property that allows you to change the order of addition is known as the commutative property. This property states that the sum of two numbers remains the same regardless of the order in which they are added. For example, if you have two numbers, say 3 and 5, the commutative property confirms that 3 + 5 equals 5 + 3, both yielding a result of 8. This demonstrates that addition is flexible in terms of the order of its operands.

Understanding the commutative property is crucial in mathematics, as it allows for more flexibility in calculations and problem-solving, making it easier to rearrange terms for simplification or ease of computation.

The other properties listed serve different purposes: the reciprocal property pertains to inverse operations, the associative property relates to grouping of numbers during addition or multiplication, and the identity property involves the numbers that do not change the value of other numbers when added or multiplied. Each property has its unique role in arithmetic, but for changing the order of addition specifically, the commutative property is the correct answer.