The associative property is a lot like the commutative property, except that it involves three or more numbers, not just two. We can only operate on two numbers at one time, but we have the choice of which two to choose first, next, and so on. Just like the commutative property, the associative property tells us the outcome will be the same no matter in which order we choose to use the numbers.

5+4+3 = 4+3+5 = 3+4+5, etc.

Commutative is basically the same thing, but with two numbers (addends or factors).

I wouldn’t say that division is associative, since it doesn’t involve 3 dividends/divisors, and they can’t be switched around. It’s not commutative for the same reason. For example, although 3 x 4 and 4 x 3 both equal 12, 12 / 3 and 12 / 4 do not equal the same quotient.

I hope that made sense?

http://home.europa.com/~paulg/mathmodels/associative.html

1/(2/3) = 1/.667 = 1.5

Division is not associative