Algebra 1

Published by Prentice Hall
ISBN 10: 0133500403
ISBN 13: 978-0-13350-040-0

Chapter 1 - Foundations for Algebra - 1-4 Properties of Real Numbers - Practice and Problem-Solving Exercises - Page 28: 53

Answer

No, subtraction is not associative.

Work Step by Step

If subtraction were associative, it would mean we could change the grouping, and the difference would not change. This is not the case. For example, $5-(3-2)=5-1=4$, but $(5-3)-2=2-2=0$. When we changed the grouping on the subtraction problem, the answer was different. Therefore, subtraction is not associative.
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