SOLUTION: how does the associative property work? These explanations are not helping me. Please help sincerly,

Algebra.Com
Question 241714: how does the associative property work? These explanations are not helping me. Please help
sincerly,
Algebra student


P.s does it work like this 1+(2+3)=(1+2)+3

Answer by Edwin McCravy(20060)   (Show Source): You can put this solution on YOUR website!
how does the associative property work? These explanations are not helping me. Please help
sincerly,
Algebra student

P.s does it work like this 1+(2+3)=(1+2)+3


Yes it does.  With the left side,

 1 + (2 + 3) 

the parentheses are around the 2 and the 3.
That means you are ASSOCIATING the 2 and 3 together. 
Then you have

1 + 5

which gives 6. 

Now with the right side,

(1 + 2) + 3

the parentheses are around the 1 and the 2.
That means you are ASSOCIATING them together. 
Then you have

3 + 3

which also gives 6.

So the associative property says that if you have
three numbers to add, it doesn't matter whether you
associate the first two, and them, and then add the 
third number, or whether you associate the last two,
add them, then add the first number to what you got,
you will always get the same final answer.

That principle also works for multiplying three numbers

2 x (3 x 4) = 2 x 12 = 24

(2 x 3) x 4 = 6 x 4 = 24

So 2 x (3 x 4) = (2 x 3) x 4

But it DOES NOT work for subtraction 

9 - (6 - 2) = 9 - 4 = 5

But

(9 - 6) - 2 = 3 - 2 = 1

So there is NO associative property for subtraction.

It also DOES NOT work for division.

So we say ADDITION and MULTIPLICATION both have the ASSOCIATIVE
PROPERTY, but SUBTRACTION and DIVISION do not.

Edwin

RELATED QUESTIONS

Can you please help me to understand the associative and commutative property? (answered by richard1234)
please help me write this expression in the associative property:... (answered by stanbon)
can you please help me do this problem without using the associative property:... (answered by stanbon)
hey i need help with the associative property with this problem in my workbook. it says... (answered by lkwtcnj)
To Whom It May Concern: I have beeen having problems with algebra II every since i... (answered by josmiceli)
HELP PLEASE! WORD PROBLEMS ARE CONFUSING. I do not know how to solve nor how to express... (answered by Alan3354)
How do you rewrite this expression using the indicated property? (x+7)+3,Associative... (answered by jim_thompson5910)
Which numbers in the following set are integers? {-1/14, -97, 22.72, -5, 80} I never (answered by MathLover1)
I am trying to help my son with this question but do not know much pre-algebra. I came... (answered by rapaljer)