What is Associative Property of Addition?
To “associate” means to connect or join with something. According to the associative property of addition, the sum of three or more numbers remains the same regardless of how the numbers are grouped.
Here’s an example of how the sum does NOT change irrespective of how the addends are grouped.
Here’s another example.
| ( 75 + 81 ) + 34= 166 + 34= 200 | 75 + ( 81 + 34)= 75 + 125= 200 |
| Fun Facts The associative property always involves 3 or more numbers.The numbers grouped within a parenthesis, are terms in the expression that considered as one unit. There is also an associative property of multiplication. However, subtraction and division are not associative. |
Let’s sing!
When adding numbers three or more,
Group it anyway, you will still score!
Don’t let adding in order be the aim,
Because the sum will just be the same!
Let’s do it!
Take your child out for shopping. Ask him/her to add the price of things in a bill in a different order and check if the total price is the same.
Related Math Vocabulary!
Addend, Add, Parenthesis, Expression, Associative property of Multiplication, Sum .
