Which statement pairs each identity with the right operation?

Class 6Whole NumbersWhole Numbers

A0 is the identity for addition and 1 is the identity for multiplication
B1 is the identity for addition and 0 is the identity for multiplication
C0 is the identity for both addition and multiplication
D1 is the identity for both addition and multiplication

Step-by-Step Solution

An identity leaves the number unchanged. Since a + 0 = a, zero is the additive identity, and since a × 1 = a, one is the multiplicative identity. Swapping them fails immediately: a + 1 is bigger than a, and a × 0 collapses to 0.

Answer: A) 0 is the identity for addition and 1 is the identity for multiplication

Key idea: Properties of whole-number addition and multiplication

**Commutative**: a + b = b + a, and a × b = b × a. Order does not matter for addition or multiplication.

**Associative**: (a + b) + c = a + (b + c), and (a × b) × c = a × (b × c). Grouping does not matter.

**Distributive**: a × (b + c) = a × b + a × c. Multiplication 'distributes over' addition. This is one of the most useful rules in all of maths.

**Identity**: a + 0 = a (zero is the additive identity), and a × 1 = a (one is the multiplicative identity).

**Multiplying by zero**: a × 0 = 0 for every whole number a.

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