Taking the Fear

out of Math

next

#4

The Closure
Property
Using Tiles

Math As A Second Language

All Rights Reserved

next

In this presentation we will show how

by using tiles, the closure properties for
addition and multiplication become obvious.
To begin with, closure under addition means
that the result of adding two whole numbers
is also a whole number.
Lets look at two sets, one of which has
3 tiles and the other of which has 2 tiles.

Math As A Second Language

All Rights Reserved

next

If we move the two sets of tiles closer

together, they become a (larger) set
that consists of 5 tiles,
as shown above.
The above explanation is easy for even
very young children to internalize, and
they easily generalize this for any two
whole numbers.
Math As A Second Language

All Rights Reserved

next

For example, to show that since 5 and 6

are whole numbers so also is 5 + 6, all they
would have to do is arrange 5 red tiles and
six blue tiles as shown below

and then move the two sets closer

together to obtain one larger set of tiles

Math As A Second Language

All Rights Reserved

next

While the closure property for addition

seems pretty much self evident, it is
not a truism in general that when you
combine two members of a set the
result will be another member of the set.

In terms of a non-mathematical
example that students might have fun
working with, define the combination
of two colors to be the color you get when
the two colors are mixed together.
Math As A Second Language

All Rights Reserved

next

Suppose we take the set of colors that

consists only of red, yellow, and blue.

In that case if we combine the red and

yellow, we do not get a member of the set.

Yes, we do get the color orange, but orange

does not belong to the set that consists
only or red, yellow, and blue.
Math As A Second Language

All Rights Reserved

next

In terms of a more mathematical

example, notice that the sum of two odd
numbers is never an odd number (this will
be proven in a later presentation)!
1 2 3
1
4
1

1
4

2
5

3
6

In other words, the set of odd numbers

is not closed with respect to addition.
Math As A Second Language

All Rights Reserved

next

Also notice that while addition and

subtraction (i.e., unaddition) seem closely
connected, the whole numbers are not
closed with respect to subtraction.

While we can delete 2 tiles from a set that

contains 3 tiles
we cannot delete 3 tiles from a set that
contains only 2 tiles.
Math As A Second Language

All Rights Reserved

next

In other words, even though 2 and 3

are whole numbers, 2 3 is not
a whole number.1

note

To extend the whole numbers so that they will be closed with respect
to subtraction, we had to invent the integers (the whole numbers and the
negative whole numbers). In the language of integers, the whole number 1 is
written as +1 and read as positive 1 while its opposite is written as -1 and
1

read as negative 1; and in the language of integers, 2 3 = +2 +3 = -1.

Thus, the integers are closed with respect to subtraction.
Math As A Second Language

All Rights Reserved

next

Using tiles, it is easy to see that the set

of whole numbers is also closed with
respect to multiplication; that is, the result
of multiplying two whole numbers is also a
whole number.
In terms of a specific example, we know
that 4 and 3 are whole numbers, so lets
use tiles to demonstrate that 4 3 is
also a whole number.
Math As A Second Language

All Rights Reserved

next

To this end, we may visualize 4 3 as

4 sets, each with 3 tiles

and if we move the 4 sets of tiles closer

together, we get one (larger) set of tiles.

Math As A Second Language

All Rights Reserved

next

In fact, we can introduce students to

area in a very non threatening way by
rearranging the 4 sets of 3 tiles into a
rectangular array such as

Math As A Second Language

All Rights Reserved

next

Notice that by our fundamental

principle of counting

and

have the same number of tiles (12).

Math As A Second Language

All Rights Reserved

next

Just as the whole numbers, which

are closed with respect to addition,
but not closed with respect to
subtraction; the whole numbers are
also closed with respect to
multiplication but not closed with
respect to division.

Math As A Second Language

All Rights Reserved

next

For example, 14 3 cannot be a whole

number because if we count by 3s, 4 3
is too small to be the correct answer while
5 3 is too large to be the correct answer;
and there are no whole numbers
between 4 and 5.
In terms of our representing whole
numbers in a rectangular array, 14 tiles
cannot be arranged in such a pattern if
each row is to consist of 3 tiles.
Math As A Second Language

All Rights Reserved

next

We would need 1 more tile in order to

complete the 5th row of tiles.

No matter how self-evident the closure

properties seem to be in terms of tiles,
later in their study of mathematics
students will be exposed to a more general,
and more abstract definition of closure.
Math As A Second Language

All Rights Reserved

next

In particular
The Closure Property For Addition

If a and b are whole numbers, then a + b

is also a whole number.
The Closure Property For Multiplication
If a and b are whole numbers, then a b
is also a whole number.
Math As A Second Language

All Rights Reserved

next

However, by already having

internalized these two concepts
in terms of tiles the formal
definitions will not
intimidate students.

Math As A Second Language

All Rights Reserved

next

Closing Notes on Closure

Closure states that the sum of two whole

numbers is a whole number, but it does not
state what the whole number is. Thus the
fact that we showed 5 + 6 = 11 goes beyond
what closure guarantees.
Likewise, closure also states that the
product of two whole numbers is a whole
number, but it does not state what the whole
number is. Thus the fact 3 4 = 12 goes
beyond what closure guarantees.
Math As A Second Language

All Rights Reserved

next

In our next presentation, we shall

discuss how using tiles also helps us
better understand the commutative
properties of whole numbers with
respect to addition and multiplication.

Math As A Second Language

All Rights Reserved

next

We will again see that

what might seem
intimidating when
expressed in formal terms
is quite obvious when
looked at from a more
visual point of view.

Math As A Second Language

All Rights Reserved

5+3

53

closure
addition
multiplication