associative property
Parentheses don't matter
The associative property is a mathematical principle stating that grouping doesn't affect the result of certain operations.
With addition, (2 + 3) + 4 equals 2 + (3 + 4).
With multiplication, (2 × 3) × 4 equals 2 × (3 × 4).
Subtraction and division are not associative—grouping changes their outcomes.
- parenthesesCurved enclosing punctuation marks
- order of operationsMathematical calculation sequence
- left to rightHorizontal reading sequence
- groupAssembled collection of things
- orderMethodical arrangement or request
brackets · axiom · add · concatenation · commutative · sum · math · multiplication · addition · equation · product · real numbers · natural numbers · algebra · set theory · reflexive · inverse · symmetric
- algebravariables, equations, equation, polynomials, algebraic equations
- Math RulesPythagorean theorem, order of operations, product rule, chain rule, law of cosines
- multiplicationmultiplication, multiply, product, times tables, multiplier
- additionsum, plus, add, addend, addition
- associationlinking, pairing, connection, clustering, relating
- mental mathmental math, mental arithmetic, estimation, guesstimate, ballpark