associative
Meaning: Describing a mathematical operation in which the grouping of operands does not affect the result, so that (a + b) + c equals a + (b + c), or more broadly, relating to the formation of mental connections between ideas.
In mathematics, the associative property holds for addition and multiplication but not for subtraction or division. It is a fundamental axiom in group theory and ring theory. Outside mathematics, 'associative' appears in psychology (associative memory, associative learning) and computing (associative arrays, associative caches). The dual usage — mathematical and psychological — rarely causes confusion because context makes the intended sense clear.
Examples
- Multiplication of integers is associative, meaning (2 × 3) × 4 gives the same result as 2 × (3 × 4). 整数乘法是结合的,即(2 × 3) × 4与2 × (3 × 4)给出相同的结果。La multiplicación de enteros es asociativa, lo que significa que (2 × 3) × 4 da el mismo resultado que 2 × (3 × 4).整数の乗法は結合的である。つまり(2 × 3) × 4は2 × (3 × 4)と同じ結果になる。정수의 곱셈은 결합법칙이 성립한다. 즉 (2 × 3) × 4는 2 × (3 × 4)와 같은 결과를 낸다.
- Associative memory enables the brain to retrieve a complete pattern from a partial or noisy cue, a principle exploited in neural network design. 联想记忆使大脑能够从部分或含噪线索中检索完整模式,这一原理被应用于神经网络设计。La memoria asociativa permite al cerebro recuperar un patrón completo a partir de un estímulo parcial o ruidoso, un principio aprovechado en el diseño de redes neuronales.連想記憶により脳は部分的またはノイズを含む手がかりから完全なパターンを想起でき、この原理はニューラルネットワーク設計に活用されている。연상 기억은 뇌가 부분적이거나 잡음이 섞인 단서로부터 완전한 패턴을 인출할 수 있게 하며, 이 원리는 신경망 설계에 활용된다.
- The compiler optimised the expression by exploiting the associative property of addition to reorder the arithmetic operations. 编译器利用加法的结合性质重新排列算术运算来优化表达式。El compilador optimizó la expresión aprovechando la propiedad asociativa de la suma para reordenar las operaciones aritméticas.コンパイラは加法の結合法則を利用して算術演算を並べ替え、式を最適化した。컴파일러는 덧셈의 결합법칙을 이용해 산술 연산의 순서를 재배열하여 식을 최적화했다.
Pronunciation
Usage Guide
Context: scientific, academic, professional
Tone: neutral
Origin & History
From Latin associare (to join together), combining ad- (to) and socius (companion). The mathematical sense was formalised in the 19th century alongside the development of abstract algebra.
Cultural Context
Era: Modern
Generation: All ages
Social background: Universal
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