Question

Angela ordered 2 glass paperweights. The volume of each paperweight is 5 cubic inches, and the density of the glass is 1.5 ounces per cubic inch. Angela can use the calculation below to find the total weight of her order.
2×(5×1.5)

How can Angela simplify the calculation using only the associative property of multiplication?

Answer 1

The associative property states that you can multiply numbers no matter how they're grouped, meaning that we can erase the parenthesis and make it 2*5*1.5. That way, it's easier to figure out 2*5*1.5 than 5*1.5 first then that multiplied by 2.