The associative property is when an equation can be rearranged without changing the answer. Jacob is incorrect. (12+31)x5=215 Because of PEMDAS, parenthesis are the first thing you have to solve for. 12+31=43. 43x5=215. 12+31x5=167 You would have to do 31x5 first because of PEMDAS, multiplication comes before addition. 31x5=155. 12+155=167.