The Associative Property

The associative property is a property of addition and multiplication that states that the grouping of numbers in a sum or product does not change the result. In other words, you can change the grouping of the numbers in a sum or product without changing the value.

For addition:

a + (b + c) = (a + b) + c

For multiplication:

a x (b x c) = (a x b) x c

Example:

Let's look at an example of the associative property in action:

3 + (4 + 5) = (3 + 4) + 5

12 x (3 x 2) = (12 x 3) x 2

Study Guide

Here are some key points to remember about the associative property:

• It applies to both addition and multiplication.
• The property states that the grouping of numbers can be changed without changing the result.
• It does not apply to subtraction or division.
• It can be helpful to remember the property by thinking of "associating" the numbers in different ways without changing the result.

Practice using the associative property with different sets of numbers to become comfortable with applying it to various situations.

Remember, the associative property is a fundamental concept in mathematics and is used in many different areas of math, so it's important to understand and be able to apply it confidently.

[Associative Property] Related Worksheets and Study Guides:

• More MultiplicationMathematics • Fourth Grade