Aiko is finding the sum [tex]\((4 + 5i) + (-3 + 7i)\)[/tex]. She rewrites the sum as [tex]\((-3 + 7)i + (4 + 5)i\)[/tex]. Which statement explains the error Aiko made by using a mathematical property incorrectly?

A. Aiko incorrectly used the commutative property by changing the order of the two complex numbers.
B. Aiko incorrectly used the associative property by changing the order of the two complex numbers.
C. Aiko incorrectly used the identity property by combining the real number and the coefficient of the imaginary part.
D. Aiko incorrectly used the distributive property by combining the real number and the coefficient of the imaginary part.



Answer :

To find the sum [tex]\((4 + 5i) + (-3 + 7i)\)[/tex], let's carefully follow the correct mathematical steps.

1. Breaking down the terms:
- The first complex number is [tex]\(4 + 5i\)[/tex], where [tex]\(4\)[/tex] is the real part and [tex]\(5i\)[/tex] is the imaginary part.
- The second complex number is [tex]\(-3 + 7i\)[/tex], where [tex]\(-3\)[/tex] is the real part and [tex]\(7i\)[/tex] is the imaginary part.

2. Adding the real parts and the imaginary parts separately:
[tex]\[ (4 + (-3)) + (5i + 7i) \][/tex]

3. Simplifying the real and imaginary sums:
[tex]\[ (4 - 3) + (5i + 7i) = 1 + 12i \][/tex]

Now, let's look at what Aiko did. She rewrote the sum as [tex]\((-3 + 7)i + (4 + 5)i\)[/tex].

- Here, Aiko incorrectly placed the terms inside the imaginary unit [tex]\(i\)[/tex], instead of keeping the real and imaginary parts separate.

To explain the specific error Aiko made:
- Mathematical properties:
- Commutative Property: This property states that changing the order of the numbers does not change the sum. This property was not misused by Aiko since she didn't merely switch the order.
- Associative Property: This property allows for grouping of numbers in any order. This property was also not relevant to her error since she didn't change grouping of terms.
- Identity Property: This property refers to adding zero to a number or multiplying by one to get the number itself. This property wasn't part of the error here.

- Aiko's specific error involves improperly combining the real part with the coefficient of the imaginary part, in essence, rewriting and combining terms incorrectly.

Thus, the correct explanation for Aiko's error is:
"Aiko incorrectly used the distributive property by combining the real number and the coefficient of the imaginary part."