Commutative Property of Addition Worksheets - Free Printable

Let's solve the problem step by step using the commutative property of addition, which states:

> a + b = b + a

This means that changing the order of the addends does not change the sum.

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Part A: Find the sum and complete each addition equation using the commutative property.

We'll solve each one by first finding the sum, then writing the second equation with the addends reversed.

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#### 1)
25 + 15 = ___
→ 25 + 15 = 40
Then: 15 + ___ = 40 → 15 + 25 = 40

✔ Answer:
25 + 15 = 40
15 + 25 = 40

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#### 2)
42 + 33 = ___
→ 42 + 33 = 75
Then: ___ + 42 = 75 → 33 + 42 = 75

✔ Answer:
42 + 33 = 75
33 + 42 = 75

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#### 3)
131 + 12 = ___
→ 131 + 12 = 143
Then: 111 + ___ = 143 → Wait! This is inconsistent.

Wait — let’s check:
The problem says:
"131 + 12 = ___"
Then: "111 + ___ = 143"

But 131 + 12 = 143, so the sum is correct.
Now, it says: 111 + ___ = 143
So: 143 - 111 = 32

But this is not the same as the original addends (131 and 12). That seems like a typo or mistake in the problem?

Wait — perhaps there's a typo. Let's double-check.

Original:
"131 + 12 = ___" → 143
Then: "111 + ___ = 143" → 32

But 111 ≠ 131, so this is not the commutative property unless it's a different pair.

Wait — maybe it's a typo? The first number should be 131, not 111?

Let’s look again:
It says:
131 + 12 = ___
Then: 111 + ___ = 143

That doesn’t make sense. 111 is not 12 or 131.

But 131 + 12 = 143 → correct
So the reverse should be: 12 + 131 = 143

But the problem says: 111 + ___ = 143

Hmm. Maybe it's a typo. Let's assume it's supposed to be:
12 + ___ = 143 → 12 + 131 = 143

But the worksheet says: 111 + ___ = 143

That would mean the second addend is 32, but 111 + 32 = 143, which is true, but unrelated to 131 + 12.

So this seems like an error.

But wait — maybe the first problem is 111 + 32 = 143, but it says 131 + 12?

No, the problem clearly says:
131 + 12 = ___ → 143
Then: 111 + ___ = 143

That can't be right unless it's a trick.

Wait — perhaps the second line is meant to be:
12 + ___ = 143 → 12 + 131 = 143

But it says 111 + ___ = 143

That suggests either:
- There's a typo in the problem
- Or we're supposed to ignore the numbers and just apply the property

But let's proceed carefully.

Wait — maybe I misread.

Looking at the image text:

> 3) 131 + 12 = ___
> 111 + ___ = 143

That’s strange.

But 131 + 12 = 143 → correct
111 + ? = 143 → ? = 32

So 111 + 32 = 143

But that’s not related to the first equation.

So unless there’s a typo, this isn’t commutative.

But perhaps the intention was:

131 + 12 = 143
12 + 131 = 143

But the worksheet says: 111 + ___ = 143

So likely a typo — probably meant to be 12 + ___ = 143

But since it says 111 + ___ = 143, we have to go with what's written.

But then it’s not commutative.

Wait — maybe it's a separate equation?

No, the structure is:

> a) First equation: 131 + 12 = ___
> Then: 111 + ___ = 143

But that doesn’t follow.

Unless... the sum is 143, and they want us to fill in the missing addend in 111 + ___ = 143, regardless of the first part?

But that defeats the purpose of commutative property.

Alternatively, maybe the first equation is 111 + 32 = 143, but it says 131 + 12?

Wait — 131 + 12 = 143 → correct
111 + 32 = 143 → also correct

But those are two different pairs.

So unless the problem has a typo, this is confusing.

But let's assume it's a typo and the second line should be:
12 + ___ = 143

Then: 12 + 131 = 143

That makes sense.

Similarly, later problems might have typos.

But let's continue with what’s written.

Perhaps the first number in the second line is wrong.

Let me recheck the image text you provided:

> 3) 131 + 12 = ___
> 111 + ___ = 143

Yes — that’s what’s written.

But 131 + 12 = 143 → correct
Then 111 + x = 143 → x = 32

But 32 ≠ 131 or 12

So this is not commutative.

Unless the problem is asking for the sum, and then to write another equation that equals the same sum, but not necessarily the same addends?

But the instruction says: "complete each addition equation using the commutative property"

So it should be the same two numbers, just switched.

Therefore, this must be a typo.

Likely, the second line should be: 12 + ___ = 143

So we’ll assume it’s a typo and fix it accordingly.

Let’s proceed with that assumption.

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So corrected:

#### 3)
131 + 12 = 143
12 + 131 = 143

✔ Answer:
131 + 12 = 143
12 + 131 = 143

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#### 4)
56 + 200 = ___
→ 56 + 200 = 256
Then: 200 + ___ = 256 → 200 + 56 = 256

✔ Answer:
56 + 200 = 256
200 + 56 = 256

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#### 5)
67 + 83 = ___
→ 67 + 83 = 150
Then: 83 + ___ = 150 → 83 + 67 = 150

✔ Answer:
67 + 83 = 150
83 + 67 = 150

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#### 6)
18 + 71 = ___
→ 18 + 71 = 89
Then: ___ + 18 = 89 → 71 + 18 = 89

✔ Answer:
18 + 71 = 89
71 + 18 = 89

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#### 7)
320 + 150 = ___
→ 320 + 150 = 470
Then: ___ + 320 = 470 → 150 + 320 = 470

✔ Answer:
320 + 150 = 470
150 + 320 = 470

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#### 8)
406 + 56 = ___
→ 406 + 56 = 462
Then: 56 + ___ = 462 → 56 + 406 = 462

✔ Answer:
406 + 56 = 462
56 + 406 = 462

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Part B: Use the commutative property of addition and write two addition equations with addends 69 and 90.

We need to write two equations using 69 and 90, switching the order.

So:

1. 69 + 90 = 159
2. 90 + 69 = 159

✔ Answers:
69 + 90 = 159
90 + 69 = 159

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✔ Final Answers:

#### Part A:

1) 25 + 15 = 40
15 + 25 = 40

2) 42 + 33 = 75
33 + 42 = 75

3) 131 + 12 = 143
12 + 131 = 143
*(Note: Original had "111 + ___", likely a typo; should be 12)*

4) 56 + 200 = 256
200 + 56 = 256

5) 67 + 83 = 150
83 + 67 = 150

6) 18 + 71 = 89
71 + 18 = 89

7) 320 + 150 = 470
150 + 320 = 470

8) 406 + 56 = 462
56 + 406 = 462

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#### Part B:

- 69 + 90 = 159
- 90 + 69 = 159

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🔍 Explanation:

The commutative property of addition means that the order of the addends does not affect the sum. So, for any two numbers a and b:

> a + b = b + a

This is why we can switch the numbers around and still get the same result.

For example:
25 + 15 = 40, and 15 + 25 = 40 — same sum.

This property is useful in mental math and simplifying calculations.

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⚠️ Note: Problem #3 has a possible typo — the second line says "111 + ___ = 143", but based on the first equation (131 + 12 = 143), it should be "12 + ___ = 143". If the problem truly says "111", then it's not applying the commutative property correctly. But assuming it's a typo, the intended answer uses 12 and 131.

Let me know if you'd like a corrected version of the worksheet.