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Addition

From AoPSWiki

Addition is the mathematical operation which combines two quantities. The result of addition is called a sum.

Notation

The sum of two numbers a and b is denoted a+b, which is read "a plus b." The sum of f(a), f(a+1), f(a+2), f(a+3), \cdots, f(b), where f is a function, is denoted \sum_{i=a}^bf(i). (See also Sigma notation)

Properties

  • Commutativity: The sum a+b is equivalent to b+a.
  • Associativity: The sum (a+b)+c is equivalent to a+(b+c). This sum is usually denoted a+b+c.
  • Closure: If a and b are both elements of \mathbb{R}, then a+b is an element of \mathbb{R}. This is also the case with \mathbb{N}, \mathbb{Z}, and \mathbb{C}.
  • Identity: a+0=a for any complex number a.
  • Inverse: The sum of a number and its additive inverse, a+(-a), is equal to zero.
  • Equality: If a=b, then a+c=b+c.
  • If a is real and b is positive, a+b>a.
  • The sum of a number and its Complex conjugate is a real number.
  • a+(-b)=a-b (See also Subtraction)

See also

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