Modular Arithmetic Properties Calculator

Test associative, commutative, and distributive properties of modular addition and multiplication

Test Modular Arithmetic Properties

Property Test Results

Associative Property Test

Addition Test

Left side: (7 + 5) + 3 ≡ 1 + 3 ≡ 4 (mod 11)

Right side: 7 + (5 + 3) ≡ 7 + 8 ≡ 4 (mod 11)

Result: ✓ Associative

Multiplication Test

Left side: (7 × 5) × 3 ≡ 2 × 3 ≡ 6 (mod 11)

Right side: 7 × (5 × 3) ≡ 7 × 4 ≡ 6 (mod 11)

Result: ✓ Associative

Example Tests

Associative Addition (mod 7)

Test: (3 + 4) + 5 vs 3 + (4 + 5)

Left: 7 + 5 ≡ 0 + 5 ≡ 5 (mod 7)

Right: 3 + 9 ≡ 3 + 2 ≡ 5 (mod 7)

Result: ✓ Associative

Distributive Property (mod 6)

Test: 2 × (3 + 4) vs (2 × 3) + (2 × 4)

Left: 2 × 7 ≡ 2 × 1 ≡ 2 (mod 6)

Right: 6 + 8 ≡ 0 + 2 ≡ 2 (mod 6)

Result: ✓ Distributive

Algebraic Properties

A

Associative

(a ○ b) ○ c = a ○ (b ○ c)

Order of operations doesn't matter

C

Commutative

a ○ b = b ○ a

Order of operands doesn't matter

D

Distributive

a × (b + c) = (a × b) + (a × c)

Multiplication distributes over addition

Modular Arithmetic Facts

All three properties hold for modular addition

All three properties hold for modular multiplication

Multiplication distributes over addition in modular arithmetic

These properties are fundamental to number theory

Quick Tips

Test with different values to verify properties

Modular arithmetic behaves like regular arithmetic

These properties enable algebraic manipulations

Used in cryptography and computer science

Understanding Modular Arithmetic Properties

What is Modular Arithmetic?

Modular arithmetic is a system of arithmetic for integers where numbers "wrap around" when reaching a certain value called the modulus. It's like arithmetic on a clock face.

Key Definitions

  • Modular Addition: (a + b) mod n = ((a mod n) + (b mod n)) mod n
  • Modular Multiplication: (a × b) mod n = ((a mod n) × (b mod n)) mod n
  • Congruence: a ≡ b (mod n) means n divides (a - b)

Property Proofs

Associative Property

Follows from associativity of regular arithmetic. Since (x + y) + z = x + (y + z) for integers, the same holds modulo n.

Commutative Property

Similarly follows from commutativity of regular arithmetic: x + y = y + x and x × y = y × x for integers.

Distributive Property

x × (y + z) = x × y + x × z holds for integers, so it also holds modulo n.