commutative law in mathematics, law holding that for a given binary operation (combining two quantities) the order of the quantities is arbitrary; e.g., in addition, the numbers 2 and 5 can be combined as 2+5=7 or as 5+2=7. More generally, in addition, for any two numbers a and b the commutative law is expressed as a + b = b + a. Multiplication of numbers is also commutative, i.e., a × b = b × a. In general, any binary operation, symbolized by [symbol], joining mathematical entities A and B obeys the commutative law if A [symbol] B = B [symbol] A for all possible choices of A and B. Not all operations are commutative; e.g., subtraction is not since 2-5≠5-2, and division is not since 2/5 ≠ 5/2 .
