What is the identity property of multiplication?

What is the identity property of multiplication?

• A. a x 0 = 0
• B. a x 1 = a
• C. a x a = a²
• D. a x (-1) = -a

Answer: (B)

The identity property of multiplication states that when any number is multiplied by one, the result is the number itself. This means that if you take any number "a" and multiply it by one, you will get "a" back. This property highlights the concept that one serves as the "identity" for multiplication—keeping the original number unchanged. For example, if you take the number 5 and multiply it by 1, you still have 5 (5 x 1 = 5). This property is fundamental in arithmetic operations and is an essential concept for further understanding algebra and higher-level math. The other options describe different properties but do not define the identity property of multiplication. Multiplying by zero yields zero, squaring a number results in a different value, and multiplying by negative one flips the sign of the original number, but none of these are related to maintaining the original value through multiplication like one does.

The identity property of multiplication states that when any number is multiplied by one, the result is the number itself. This means that if you take any number "a" and multiply it by one, you will get "a" back. This property highlights the concept that one serves as the "identity" for multiplication—keeping the original number unchanged.

For example, if you take the number 5 and multiply it by 1, you still have 5 (5 x 1 = 5). This property is fundamental in arithmetic operations and is an essential concept for further understanding algebra and higher-level math.

The other options describe different properties but do not define the identity property of multiplication. Multiplying by zero yields zero, squaring a number results in a different value, and multiplying by negative one flips the sign of the original number, but none of these are related to maintaining the original value through multiplication like one does.