Define association in math terms

Answer 1

Association is a property of arithmetic operations. The associative property states that the order in which two or more operations are carried out does not affect the result.

Thus,

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

and

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

so you can write a + b + c without ambiguity.

Note that a - (b - c) is NOT the same as (a - b) - c [unless c = 0].