Property of an operation in which the terms can be grouped in different ways without modifying the result of the operation.
Property of an operation that makes it possible to group terms without changing the result.
This property helps to facilitate calculations.
It also helps make mental calculations more efficient.
Examples
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- The operations of addition and multiplication in the set of whole numbers are associative operations.
8 + (2 + 6) = (8 + 2 ) + 6
(7 × 5) × 10 = 7 × (5 × 10) - The operations of subtraction and division in the set of whole numbers are not associative operations.
8 – (6 – 2) ≠ (8 – 6 ) – 2
(40 ÷ 10) ÷ 2 ≠ 40 ÷ (10 ÷ 2)
- The operations of addition and multiplication in the set of whole numbers are associative operations.