/ kəˈmjuːtətɪv; NAmE / adjective
( mathematics ) ( of a calculation ) giving the same result whatever the order in which the quantities are shown
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WORD ORIGIN
mid 16th cent. (in the sense relating to transactions between people ): from French commutatif , -ive or medieval Latin commutativus , from commutat- exchanged, from the verb commutare from com- altogether + mutare to change.