Printable 3rd Grade Associative Property of Multiplication ... - Free Printable

Let’s solve each problem step by step using the associative property of multiplication, which says:

> You can group numbers in different ways when multiplying, and the product stays the same.
> Formula: a × (b × c) = (a × b) × c

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Part 1: Fill in the missing number

#### Problem 1:
4 × (3 × 2) = (4 × 3) × ___

Left side: 3 × 2 = 6 → then 4 × 6 = 24
Right side: 4 × 3 = 12 → then 12 × ? = 24 → so ? = 2
✔ Missing number is 2

*(Also, by associative property, we’re just moving the parentheses — the last number stays the same.)*

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#### Problem 2:
6 × (2 × 5) = (6 × 2) × ___

Left side: 2 × 5 = 10 → 6 × 10 = 60
Right side: 6 × 2 = 12 → 12 × ? = 60 → ? = 5
✔ Missing number is 5

*(Again, associative property — the last number doesn’t change.)*

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#### Problem 3:
(20 × 5) × 11 = 20 × (11 × ___)

Wait — let’s look carefully.

Original left side: (20 × 5) × 11
By associative property, this equals 20 × (5 × 11)

But the right side says: 20 × (11 × ___)

So we need to make sure the grouping matches.

Actually, multiplication is also commutative inside the parentheses? Not exactly — but since it’s all multiplication, order doesn’t matter for the final answer, BUT the associative property is about grouping, not reordering.

Wait — let’s compute both sides numerically to be safe.

Left side: (20 × 5) × 11 = 100 × 11 = 1100
Right side: 20 × (11 × x) = 20 × 11x = 220x
Set equal: 220x = 1100 → x = 1100 ÷ 220 = 5

Alternatively, think:
(20 × 5) × 11 = 20 × (5 × 11) ← that’s direct associative property.

But the problem writes: 20 × (11 × ___)

Since 5 × 11 = 11 × 5 (commutative), then yes — you can write it as 20 × (11 × 5)

So missing number is 5

✔ Answer: 5

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Part 2: Find the product

#### Problem 4:
7 × (2 × 1) = ?

First, do inside parentheses: 2 × 1 = 2
Then: 7 × 2 = 14
✔ Answer: 14

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#### Problem 5:
2 × (7 × 1) = ?

Inside parentheses: 7 × 1 = 7
Then: 2 × 7 = 14
✔ Answer: 14

*(Notice both give same answer — that’s because of associative AND commutative properties!)*

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Final Answer:
2
5
5
14
14