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Arithmetic (all content)
Course: Arithmetic (all content) > Unit 3
Lesson 3: Properties of multiplication- Properties of multiplication
- Properties and patterns for multiplication
- Commutative property of multiplication
- Associative property of multiplication
- Associative property of multiplication
- Distributive property
- Commutative property of multiplication review
- Associative property of multiplication review
- Distributive property review
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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:
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
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
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.
Want to join the conversation?
- The problem is that I sometimes get confused and the answer is wrong(14 votes)
- Its okay just keep trying and you'll get it done in under 30 seconds. =D(14 votes)
- why did it put the answer for the wrong equation if he made the mistake in step 2 the answer should of been 80, 80 was the correct answer(3 votes)
- y=-3 0(-3)+(-7) 8,345.271(3 votes)
- why was it so easy love it(3 votes)
- why did it push me back when I went to another Question It is very hard why(3 votes)
- how do u find the answer(3 votes)
- i am not getting this a little bit(3 votes)
- The questions are easy if you do them more and more.(3 votes)
- 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.(3 votes)
- What's the main difference between the words communitive and associative? Aren't both meaning "order doesn't matter"?(2 votes)
- The commutative property tells you that you can change the order of the numbers when adding or when multiplying. It basically let's you move the numbers.
2 + 3 + 5 = 5 + 3 + 2 = 2 + 5 + 3, etc.
The associative property lets us change the grouping, or move grouping symbols (parentheses). It does not move / change the order of the numbers.
(2 + 3) + 5 = 2 + (3 + 5).
When you combine the 2 properties, they give us a lot of flexibility to add numbers or to multiply numbers.(2 votes)