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How Do You Use the Associative Property?

Apply the associative property of addition to the following expression to group like terms.
(2a + 4b) + (1/2)b2 + (2a+6b)

Summary

  1. 'a' and 'b' are variables
  2. Like terms are color coded:
  3. '2a' and '2a' are blue
  4. '4b' and '6b' are red
  5. Bring forward any like terms of '2a' using the associative property of addition
  6. Use the associative property of addition again to group '4b' and '6b' together
  7. Anything without like terms goes on the end

Notes

    1. '2a' and '2a' are two like terms highlighted in blue
    2. '4b' and '6b' are two like terms highlighted in red
    1. Like terms are highlighted by the same color
    2. Move the second '2a' next to the first '2a'
    1. Like terms are highlighted by the same color
    2. Move the second '2a' next to the first '2a'
    3. Move the '4b' next to the '6b'
    1. Like terms are highlighted by the same color
    2. Move the second '2a' next to the first '2a'
    3. Move the '4b' next to the '6b'
    4. Nothing has to be done to the 'one half b squared' because it has no like terms