associative operation
In mathematics, an operation in which the outcome is independent of the grouping of the numbers or symbols concerned. For example, multiplication is associative, as 4 x (3 x 2) = (4 x 3) x 2 = 24; however, division is not, as 12 ÷ (4 ÷ 2) = 6, but (12 ÷ 4) ÷ 2 = 1.5. Compare commutative operation and distributive operation.
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