Which expression demonstrates the use of the commutative property of addition in the first step of simplifying the expression open paren negative 3 plus i close paren plus open paren 18 plus 5 i close paren ?
Answer
A
negative open paren 3 minus i close paren plus open paren 18 plus 5 i close paren
B
open paren negative 3 plus i close paren plus open paren 18 plus 5 i close paren plus 0
C
open paren negative 3 plus 18 close paren plus open paren i plus 5 i close paren
D
negative 3 plus open paren i plus 18 close paren plus 5 i
Explanation
The commutative property of addition lets you change the order of addends without changing their sum. In (−3 + i) + (18 + 5i), rearrange the terms to group the real numbers and the imaginary terms: (−3 + 18) + (i + 5i). This is choice A.
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