If you're seeing this message, it means we're having trouble loading external resources on our website.

If you're behind a web filter, please make sure that the domains *.kastatic.org and *.kasandbox.org are unblocked.

# Associative property of multiplication review

Review the basics of the associative property of multiplication, and try some practice problems.

### What is the associative property?

The associative property is a math rule that says that the way in which factors are grouped in a multiplication problem does not change the product.
Example:
5, times, 4, times, 2
Let's start by grouping the start color #11accd, 5, end color #11accd and the start color #11accd, 4, end color #11accd together. We can evaluate the expression step by step.
empty space, left parenthesis, start color #11accd, 5, times, 4, end color #11accd, right parenthesis, times, 2
equals, start color #11accd, 20, end color #11accd, times, 2
equals, 40
Now let's group the start color #7854ab, 4, end color #7854ab and the start color #7854ab, 2, end color #7854ab together.
empty space, 5, times, left parenthesis, start color #7854ab, 4, times, 2, end color #7854ab, right parenthesis
equals, 5, times, start color #7854ab, 8, end color #7854ab
equals, 40
Regrouping does not change the answer!
Want to learn more about the associative property? Check out this video.
Want to know why the associative property is helpful? Check out this article.

## Practice

Problem 1
Which expressions are equivalent to start color #11accd, left parenthesis, 9, times, 2, right parenthesis, times, 5, end color #11accd ?
Choose all answers that apply:
Choose all answers that apply:

Want to try more problems like this? Check out this exercise.

## Want to join the conversation?

• The problem is that I sometimes get confused and the answer is wrong
• Its okay just keep trying and you'll get it done in under 30 seconds. =D
• y=-3 0(-3)+(-7) 8,345.271
• why was it so easy love it
• why did it push me back when I went to another Question It is very hard why
• i am not getting this a little bit
• The questions are easy if you do them more and more.
• I don't understand the difference from Commutative and Associative because both deal with you moving the numbers in the problem and the equation still has the same answer, I was just wondering.
• What's the main difference between the words communitive and associative? Aren't both meaning "order doesn't matter"?