Question

Why addition and multiplication follow the property of closure, but subtraction and division not? Explain with examples. [2 MARKS]

Answer 1

Solution: [1 Mark]
Example: [1 Mark]

When we perform the arithmetic operations like addition and subtraction on whole numbers, the result is also a whole number. For e.g. Let us take two numbers as 12 and 16. When we perform addition,

12 + 16 = 28

When we perform multiplication,

12 × 16 = 192; the result of above operations is a whole number.

Whereas when we subtract these numbers, the result may or may not be a whole number.

E.g. Subtract 16 - 12 = 4, is a whole number but when we subtract 12 - 16 = -4, which is not a whole number.

Similarly, when we divide 16/12 = 1.33, this is again not a whole number.