Associative property

Question

Show how the associative property can be used to make solving the problem below easier. Write your answer to the problem

 

 

( 2 4/5 + 1/16)+ 179 15/16

Answer 1

Associative Property: When three or more numbers are added, the sum is the same regardless of the grouping of the addends. For example (2 + 3) + 4 = 2 + (3 + 4)

 

In this case, we have ( 2 4/5 + 1/16)+ 179 15/16

 

If we can rearrange the values to 2 4/5 + (1/16 +179 15/16).

 

So, if we look at the two values 1/16 and 179 15/16, we can add those two values, which yields 180

 

We can then add that value to 2 4/5,

which yields the answer of 182 4/5

 

So, the use of the associative property made the solution easier.