Question

Which of the following options demonstrate the associative property for integers?

• A. (a) + (b) + (c) = a + b + c
• B. (a + b) + c = a + b + c
• C. (a + b) + c = a + (b + c)
• D. (a + b + c) + d = a + (b + c + d)

Answer 1

Answer: (C), (D)

The correct options are
C

(a + b) + c = a + (b + c)

D

(a + b + c) + d = a + (b + c + d)

Associative property is represented by

$(a+b)+c=a+(b+c)$

It means that result of the addition is always same irrespective of which two or more than two numbers you add first. For more than 3 numbers, it can be represented as:

(a + b + c) + d = a + (b + c + d)

For e.g. If a = 3; b = -1; c = 5

(a + b) + c = (3 + (-1)) + 5 = (3 - 1) + 5 = 2 + 5 = 7

a + (b + c) = 3 + (-1 + 5) = 3 + 4 = 7

The result is the same in both cases.