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    Associativity

    Alternate names

    associative property | associativity | law of associativity

    Basic definition

    An operation * is associative if x*(y*z) = (x*y)*z for all x, y, and z.

    Detailed definition

    Three elements x, y and z of a set S are said to be associative under a binary operation * if they satisfy x*(y*z) = (x*y)*z. Real numbers are associative under addition x + (y + z) = (x + y) + z and multiplication x·(y·z) = (x·y)·z. The Wolfram Language attribute that sets a function to be associative is Flat.

    Related terms

    associative algebra | commutative | distributive | transitive

    Related Wolfram Language symbol

    Flat

    Educational grade level

    elementary school level (California grade 2 standard)

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