What is the associative property?

When you have three or more factors, you can group them in different ways to multiply in parts and still get the same product.

Ex: 2 x (3 x 4) = (2 x 3) x 4

2 x 12 = 6 x 4

24 = 24

Let's do one together!

4 x (1 x 5) = ___________

4 x (1 x 5) = (4 x 1) x 5

4 x 5 = 4 x 5

Look at the factors, group them in a different way, multiply in parts and find the product for: (4 x 2) x 5 = ________

Step 1: (4 x 2) x 5 = 4 x (2 x 5)

Step 2: 8 x 5 = 4 x10

Step 3: 40 = 40