Definition

• The Associative Property states that when three or more numbers are multiplied, the product is the same regardless of how the factors are grouped.
  
  

Explanation

• When there are three or more numbers to multiply, how do you decide which ones to multiply first? How do you "associate" them? The Associative Property states that the result will be the same, no matter which two numbers you choose to multiply first.
  
  

Example

• Always multiply numbers in parentheses first:
  
  (3 x 2) x 5 = (2 x 5) x 3
  
  6 x 5 = 10 x 3
  
  30 = 30
  
  

Further Association

• The same concept applies to the Associative Property of Addition. When there are three or more numbers to be added, the product will be the same regardless of how the numbers are grouped.