What are the Associative Properties of Addition and Multiplication?

What are the Associative Properties of Addition and Multiplication?

Note:

The associative property is one of those fundamental properties of math that make math work. You probably take this property for granted because it's so ingrained, but it's important to see how the guts of math work, so check out the tutorial and make sure you're solid on your fundamentals!

Keywords:

  • definition
  • associative property
  • associative property of addition
  • associative property of multiplication
  • order of operations
  • order of addition
  • order of multiplication
  • properties of algebra
  • property

Background Tutorials

  • Identify parts of an expression using mathematical terms (sum, term, product, factor, quotient, coefficient); view one or more parts of an expression as a single entity.

      • What's a Term?What's a Term?

      What's a Term?

      Polynomials are those expressions that have variables raised to all sorts of powers and multiplied by all types of numbers. When you work with polynomials you need to know a bit of vocabulary, and one of the words you need to feel comfortable with is 'term'. So check out this tutorial, where you'll learn exactly what a 'term' in a polynomial is all about.

  • Evaluate expressions at specific values of their variables. Include expressions that arise from formulas used in real-world problems. Perform arithmetic operations, including those involving whole-number exponents, in the conventional order when there are no parentheses to specify a particular order (Order of Operations).

      • What's the Order of Operations?What's the Order of Operations?

      What's the Order of Operations?

      Check out this tutorial where you'll see exactly what order you need to follow when you simplify expressions. You'll also see what happens when you don't follow these rules, and you'll find out why order of operations is so important!

Further Exploration

  • Add, subtract, multiply, and divide decimals to hundredths, using concrete models or drawings and strategies based on place value, properties of operations, and/or the relationship between addition and subtraction; relate the strategy to a written method and explain the reasoning used.