Which property allows you to change the order of the addends in an addition operation?

The correct choice identifies the commutative property, which is fundamental in addition. This property states that the sum remains the same regardless of the order in which the addends are arranged. For instance, if you have two numbers, say 3 and 5, the commutative property confirms that 3 + 5 equals 5 + 3, both resulting in 8. This flexibility with the arrangement of numbers is particularly useful when solving equations, simplifying expressions, or teaching students about addition, as it helps build their understanding of mathematical relationships.

The associative property relates to changing the grouping of addends rather than their order, so it does not apply in this case. The distributive property concerns multiplication and addition together, allowing for expressions to be simplified (e.g., a(b + c) = ab + ac) rather than changing the order of addends in addition. The identity property specifies that adding zero to any number does not change its value; thus, it does not pertain to the order of addends either. Understanding the specific aspects of each property clarifies why the commutative property is the accurate answer for altering the sequence of numbers in addition.