ASSOCIATIVE PROPERTY What Is the Associative Property? Associative Property of Addition explains that when three or more numbers are added, the sum is the same regardless of the order in which the numbers are grouped and/or added. For example: (1 + 2) + 3 = 1 + (2 + 3) How to use the associative property of addition: The Associative Property of Addition allows addends to be grouped in different ways without changing the sum. 8 + (1 + 3) = 8 + 4 = 12 and (8 + 1) + 3 = 9 + 3 = 12 The sum is the same, but the addends were combined in different ways. The Associative Property can also make addition easier. 6 + 5 + 7 (6 + 5) + 7 = 11 + 7 = 18 or 6 + (5 + 7) = 6 + 12 = 18 which shows that both groupings leads to the same sum. The Associative Property is helpful when adding several numbers. It also makes mental math easier. © Copyright NewPath Learning. All Rights Reserved. Permission is granted for the purchaser to print copies for non-commercial educational purposes only. Visit us at www.NewPathLearning.com.