noncommutative
/ˌnɑnˈkɑm.jəˌteɪ.tɪv/
adjective
- Describing a mathematical operation where changing the order of the numbers changes the result (e.g., subtraction: 5 - 3 is not equal to 3 - 5).
- Matrix multiplication is noncommutative, so A times B is different from B times A.
- Subtraction is noncommutative because 10 - 4 does not equal 4 - 10.
- In advanced math, noncommutative algebra studies systems where order matters.
Antonyms