What does associative property mean?

Answer 1

(a + b) + c = a + (b + c)

the parenthesis means you are supposed to add a and b first on the left, but the property tells you it is ok to regroup and add b and c first... you will get the same answer

( 3 + 6) + 7 gives the same answer as 3 + (6 + 7)

Answer 2

The property which states that for all real numbers a, b, and c, their product is always the same.

Example:

(5 . 6) . 7 = 5 . (6 . 7)