Written by the Fiveable Content Team • Last updated September 2025
Written by the Fiveable Content Team • Last updated September 2025
Definition
The identity property of addition states that adding zero to any number will yield the same number. In other words, for any real number $a$, $a + 0 = a$.
5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test
The identity element in addition is 0.
This property is applicable to all real numbers.
It simplifies algebraic expressions by allowing zero terms to be ignored in summation.
The equation $a + 0 = a$ can be used to isolate variables in algebraic equations.
It's fundamental for understanding more complex properties and operations in algebra.
Review Questions
Related terms
Commutative Property of Addition: $a + b = b + a$; changing the order of addends does not change their sum.
Associative Property of Addition: $(a + b) + c = a + (b + c)$; grouping of addends does not affect their sum.
Inverse Property of Addition: $a + (-a) = 0$; every number has an additive inverse that sums to zero.