Skill: Use the associative property of multiplication

The associative property of multiplication lets you change how three factors are grouped. The order of the factors stays the same.

For example:

$$(3 \times 2) \times 5$$

First, multiply the numbers in parentheses:

$$3 \times 2 = 6$$

Then multiply by $5$:

$$6 \times 5 = 30$$

Now regroup the same factors:

$$3 \times (2 \times 5)$$

Multiply the numbers in parentheses first:

$$2 \times 5 = 10$$

Then multiply by $3$:

$$3 \times 10 = 30$$

Both groupings give the same product:

$$(3 \times 2) \times 5 = 3 \times (2 \times 5) = 30$$

Choose the grouping that makes a multiplication fact easier. Notice that the order stayed $3$, $2$, $5$; only the grouping changed.