Question

Which property explains why these two expressions are equal?

(w +
2
3
) + 5 = w + (
2
3
+ 5)

Answer 1

(w+23) + 5 w + (23 + 5)

This is the same as the associative property of addition.

The associative property of addition states that:
a + (b + c) = (a + b) + c