To determine which property was used, let's review some common mathematical properties:

1. Commutative Property: This property states that the order of the numbers does not change the result. It applies to both addition and multiplication.

   • For addition: $a + b = b + a$
   • For multiplication: $a \times b = b \times a$

2. Distributive Property: This property involves distributing one operation over another, such as multiplication over addition or subtraction.

   • $a \times (b + c) = (a \times b) + (a \times c)$

3. Inverse Property: This property involves operations that undo each other.

   • Additive Inverse: $a + (-a) = 0$
   • Multiplicative Inverse: $a \times \frac{1}{a} = 1$ (assuming $a \neq 0$)

If you provide a specific example or context, I can identify which property was used.

Would you like to provide an example, or do you have any questions about these properties?

Follow-up Questions:

1. Can you provide an example where you're unsure of which property is being used?
2. Do you need more details on how the commutative property works?
3. Are you interested in seeing examples of the distributive property in action?
4. Would you like to know more about inverse operations and their applications?
5. How do you think these properties might be used in solving algebraic equations?

Tip: When dealing with algebraic expressions, always look for opportunities to apply these properties to simplify the expression or solve the equation more easily.