Definitions for "Associative property"
When adding or multiplying three numbers, it doesn't matter if the first two or the last two numbers are added or multiplied first. For example, 3 + 9 + 7 = (3 + 9) + 7 = 3 + (9 + 7) 12 + 7 = 3 + 16 19 = 19 3 x 9 x 7 = (3 x 9) x 7 = 3 x (9 x 7) 27 x 7 = 3 x 63 189 = 189
A property of addition or multiplication in which the regrouping of the addends or factors does not change the outcome of the operations [i.e., (a + b) + c = a + (b + c) and (ab)c = a(bc)].
An algebraic property of an operation. The associative property of addition is ( + ) + = + ( + ); the associative property of multiplication is ( ab) = ( bc)
Keywords:  parenthesis, math, says, matter, basic
Basic property of math that applies to certain operations and says that the order of the parenthesis does not matter, i.e. (4+5)+3 = 4+(5+3)