Which property indicates that it does not matter how numbers are arranged during addition or multiplication?

The commutative property is the principle that states the order in which two numbers are added or multiplied does not affect the sum or product. This means that for addition, you can rearrange the numbers and still arrive at the same result; for example, ( a + b ) is equal to ( b + a ). Similarly, this holds true for multiplication, where ( a \times b ) is equal to ( b \times a ).

Understanding this property is fundamental in mathematics, as it allows for flexibility in computation, making it easier to simplify expressions and perform calculations without altering the final result. The commutative property is essential when solving equations or working with algebraic expressions, as it provides the freedom to group or rearrange terms as needed.