Which property states that the grouping of numbers does not affect the result of addition?

The Associative Property is the principle that demonstrates that the way in which numbers are grouped when added does not change the sum. For example, if we take three numbers, such as 2, 3, and 4, we can group them in different ways: (2 + 3) + 4, which equals 9, or 2 + (3 + 4), which also equals 9. This property allows for flexibility and ease in calculations, making it easier to add numbers regardless of how they are arranged.

In contrast, the Commutative Property relates to the order of the numbers being added, stating that changing the order does not affect the sum. The Distributive Property is used when multiplying a number by a sum or difference, effectively distributing the multiplication across the terms within the parentheses. The Identity Property refers to the concept that adding zero to any number will not change the value of that number. Understanding these different properties is essential for mastering basic mathematical operations.