Associative Property of
Addition
The problem
(3 +
6) + 8 = 3 + (6 + 8) demonstrates the
associative property of addition.
Observe that the
addends are the same on either side of the equal sign:
3
plus 6 plus 8
The associative
property of addition says that when we add more than two numbers the
grouping of the addends does not change the sum.
In the example above,
we can easily observe that:
(3 + 6) +
8
=
3 + (6 + 8)
9 +
8
=
3 + 14
17
=
17
Notice that the SUM is
the same no matter what way you group the
addends.
In general, the
associative property of addition can be written
as:
(a + b) + c = a + (b + c)
Associative Property of
Multiplication
The problem
(2
× 4) × 3 = 2 × (4 ×
3) demonstrates the associative property of
multiplication.
Observe that the
factors are the same on either side of the equal sign:
2
times 4 times 3
The associative
property of multiplication says that when we multiply more than two
numbers the grouping of the factors does not change the
product.
In the example above,
we can easily observe that:
(2 × 4) ×
3
=
2 × (4 × 3)
8 ×
3
=
2 × 12
24
=
24
Notice that the PRODUCT
is the same no matter what way you group the
factors.
In general, the
associative property of multiplication can be written
as:
(a × b) × c = a
× (b × c)
More about Associative Property
Associative property holds good for both addition and multiplication, but not for subtraction and division.