Commutatively

/kəˈmjuːtətɪvli/ adverb

Definition

In a manner following the commutative property, where the order of operations doesn't change the result (like 2+3=3+2).

Etymology

From commutative (adjective) plus -ly adverbial suffix. Commutative comes from Latin commutatus, applied to mathematics in the 18th century.

Kelly Says

Addition is commutatively friendly, but subtraction isn't—5-3 definitely doesn't equal 3-5! This difference is why mathematicians needed a special word to describe operations where order doesn't matter.

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