commutative
/kəˈmjuːtətɪv
/ /ˈkɒmjʊˌtətɪv /adjective
1 Mathematics Involving the condition that a group of quantities connected by operators gives the same result whatever the order of the quantities involved, e.g. a × b = b × a.An operation is commutative if you can change the order of the numbers involved without changing the result....
- In the 1840s, the Irish mathematician William Hamilton found that multiplication was not commutative in all number systems.
- So, the addition and multiplication we are used to using are commutative.
2 rare Relating to or involving substitution or exchange.The second difficulty was more damaging and, to a degree, commutative with the first....
- Of course, the relationship between painting and philosophy is not entirely commutative.
Origin
Mid 16th century (in the sense 'relating to transactions between people'): from French commutatif, -ive or medieval Latin commutativus, from commutat- 'exchanged', from the verb commutare (see commute).