Associative Property of Addition
 Lesson
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What does it mean to say that addition is associative?

It is the property which states that for all real numbers a, b, and c, their sum is always the same, regardless of their grouping:
(a + b) + c = a + (b + c)

In other words...
If we have some numbers that we are adding together, with a pair or more of them in parentheses, it doesn't matter if we change which of the numbers are in parentheses because the answer will be the same.

 
Example:
(1 +2) + 3 = 1 + (2 + 3)
3 + 3 = 1 + 5
6 = 6
 

Click on the left or right arrows above to move the parentheses in the equation. You may also change the numbers in the equation by selecting the field and typing a new number. Notice how the equation is rewritten with the value inside the parentheses computed. The total value stays the same.

This shows that if we are adding numbers together, with a pair or more of them in parentheses, it doesn't matter if we change which of the numbers are in parentheses because the answer will be the same.


 
Topic Index | Grade 6 Math | Intermediate Test Prep | StudyZone

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Updated by Carol Carroll
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