Question

Name the property illustrated by each equation.

31. $\left[5+\left(-2\right)\right]+\left(-4\right)=5+\left[-2+\left(-4\right)\right]$

Short answer

Name of the property illustrated isAssociative Addition.

Step-by-step solution

- Write properties of real numbers 

Properties of real numbers are written in following table:

For any real numbers $a,b,$and $c:$
Property	Addition	Multiplication
Commutative	$a+b=b+a$	$a·b=b·a$
Associative	$\left(a+b\right)+c=a+\left(b+c\right)$	$\left(a·b\right)·c=a·\left(b·c\right)$
Identity	$a+0=a=0+a$	$a·1=a=1·a$
Inverse	$a+\left(-a\right)=0=\left(-a\right)+a$	If $a\ne 0$, then $a·\frac{1}{a}=1=\frac{1}{a}·a$
Distributive	$a\left(b+c\right)=ab+ac\text{and}\left(b+c\right)a=ba+ca$

- Substitution in given values

Substitute a for 5, b for $-2$ and c for $-4$ in given equation.

Now equation becomes $\left(a+b\right)+c=a+\left(b+c\right)$

- Identify the property

From the table of properties of real numbers, $\left(a+b\right)+c=a+\left(b+c\right)$ is the property of associativity in addition

Thus, associative addition is illustrated by given equation.