Associative Property
Definition of Associative Property
- Associative property states that the change in grouping of three or more addends or factors does not change their sum or product.
More about Associative Property
- Associative property holds good for both addition and multiplication, but not for subtraction and division.
Examples of Associative Property
(2 + 3) + 5 = 2 + (3 + 5)
Whether you add 2 & 3 first or 3 & 5 first does not matter as you get the the same sum (10) both ways.
(4 . 5) . 10 = 4 . (5 . 10)
Whether you multiply 4 & 5 first or 5 & 10 first does not matter as you get the the same product (200) both ways.
Solved Example on Associative Property
Which of the following is the same as 'x + (y + z)'?
Choices:
A. (x + y) + z
B. (x + y) × z
C. (x × y) + z
D. (x × y) × z
Correct Answer: A
Solution:
Step 1: (x + y) + z is the same as x + (y + z). [Apply associative propery of addition.]
Related Terms for Associative Property
- Associative Property of Addition
- Associative Property of Multiplication
- Addend
- Sum
- Factor
- Product
Additional Links for Associative Property
