Transitive Property of Equality

The following property: If a = b and b = c, then a = c. One of the equivalence properties of equality.

Note: This is a property of equality and inequalities. (Click here for the full version of the transitive property of inequalities.) One must be cautious, however, when attempting to develop arguments using the transitive property in other settings.

Here is an example of an unsound application of the transitive property: "Team A defeated team B, and team B defeated team C. Therefore, team A will defeat team C."

See also

Reflexive property of equality, symmetric property of equality, inequality rules