Associating numbers using addition and multiplication

Check out what happens when you're adding several numbers together. You'll notice that -

(6 + 4) + 7 = 6 + (4 + 7)
(10) + 7 = 6 + (11)
17 = 17

You've observed is that the sum of several numbers is not affected by the way they're grouped! In the example above, we're not using the Commutative Law of Addition. We haven't changed the order of the numbers we're dealing with. All we've done is group the numbers differently.

Associative Law of Addition
a + (b + c) = (a + b) + c

Then we notice that the product of several numbers - or multipliers - is not affected by the way they're grouped!

Associative Law of Multiplication
a(bc) = (ab)c

These Associative Laws are powerful, indispensable tools for your math tool kit! Contact us!