Rewrite the expression step by step to show the application of the associative property of addition:

[tex]\[ -53 + (23 + 26) = (\ldots + \ldots) + \ldots = \ldots + \ldots = \ldots \][/tex]



Answer :

Let’s break down the expression step-by-step:

1. Initial Expression:
[tex]\[ -53 + (23 + 26) \][/tex]

2. Step 1: Compute [tex]\(23 + 26\)[/tex]:
[tex]\[ 23 + 26 = 49 \][/tex]

3. Result:
[tex]\[-53 + 49\][/tex]

4. Evaluate the expression:
[tex]\[ -53 + 49 = -4 \][/tex]

We can also rewrite the expression by re-pairing the numbers using the associative property of addition. Observe the following equivalent steps:

- First Re-pairing:
- Group [tex]\(-53\)[/tex] and [tex]\(23\)[/tex]:
[tex]\[ (-53 + 23) + (26) \][/tex]
- Compute [tex]\(-53 + 23\)[/tex]:
[tex]\[ -53 + 23 = -30 \][/tex]
- Result:
[tex]\[ -30 + 26 \][/tex]
- Evaluate the expression:
[tex]\[ -30 + 26 = -4 \][/tex]

- Second Re-pairing (identical to the initial step but just verifying for consistency):
- Group [tex]\(23\)[/tex] and [tex]\(-53\)[/tex]:
[tex]\[ (23 - 53) + (26) \][/tex]
- Compute [tex]\(23 - 53\)[/tex]:
[tex]\[ 23 - 53 = -30 \][/tex]
- Result:
[tex]\[ -30 + 26 \][/tex]
- Evaluate the expression:
[tex]\[ -30 + 26 = -4 \][/tex]

- Third Re-pairing:
- Group [tex]\(23 + 26\)[/tex] first:
[tex]\[ (23 + 26) + (-53) \][/tex]
- Computing [tex]\(23 + 26\)[/tex] again for completeness:
[tex]\[ 23 + 26 = 49 \][/tex]
- Result:
[tex]\[ 49 + (-53) \][/tex]
- Evaluate the expression:
[tex]\[ 49 - 53 = -4 \][/tex]

Combining all these steps, we see that regardless of how we group the numbers, the outcome is the same:

[tex]\[ -53 + (23 + 26) = (-53 + 23) + 26 = (23 - 53) + 26 = (23 + 26) + (-53) = -4 \][/tex]

Thus, the final result of the given expression is:
[tex]\[ -4 \][/tex]