Commutative property of multiplication

Problem:





Taylor made these arrays to show the commutative property of multiplication.is that what the arrays show? 

Solution:

First of all, the commutative property of multiplication means the order of operands in a multiplication does not matter. $ 3 \times 4 $ is the same as $ 4 \times 3 $.

The arrays illustrate exactly that. If you look at the array on the right, it is $ 4 \times 3 $ (4 rows of 3 beads each), but if we rotate the image, we will see $ 3 \times 4 $ (3 rows of 4 beads each). Apparently they have to be the same, that 'proves' the commutative property of multiplication.