Answer
Associative properties:
For any three real numbers a,b, and c,
$ a+(b+c)=(a+b)+c,\qquad$(addition is associative)
$ a(bc)=(ab)c,\qquad$ (multiplication is associative)
(please see step-by-step for examples)
Work Step by Step
Associative properties:
For any three real numbers a,b, and c,
$ a+(b+c)=(a+b)+c,\qquad$(addition is associative)
$ a(bc)=(ab)c,\qquad$ (multiplication is associative)
In words, different groupings do not affect the result of addition (or multiplication).
Examples:
$(2+5)+8=7+8=15$
$2+(5+8)=2+13=15$
so, $(2+5)+8=2+(5+8)$
$2(5\cdot 8)=2\cdot 40=80$
$(2\cdot 5)\cdot 8=10\cdot 8=80$
so, $2(5\cdot 8)=(2\cdot 5)\cdot 8$