Which expression is an example of the Reflexive Property?

Which expression is an example of the Reflexive Property?

• A. a = a
• B. a = b
• C. a ≠ a
• D. a + 0 = a

Answer: (A)

A quantity is equal to itself—the reflexive property. The expression a = a shows that any value is identical to itself, which is always true regardless of what a is. The other expressions describe different ideas: a = b compares two values that may be different; a ≠ a would contradict the idea that every value equals itself; and a + 0 = a reflects the additive identity, not reflexivity.

A quantity is equal to itself—the reflexive property. The expression a = a shows that any value is identical to itself, which is always true regardless of what a is. The other expressions describe different ideas: a = b compares two values that may be different; a ≠ a would contradict the idea that every value equals itself; and a + 0 = a reflects the additive identity, not reflexivity.