nonassociative
- adjective
- /ˌnɒnəˈsoʊʃiˌeɪtɪv/
- Specialized
- He discovered a new version of quantum mechanics based on commutative, nonassociative algebras—the Jordan algebras—that created a new universe of mathematics.
Examples
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The nonassociative nature of certain operations means that grouping different elements results in different answers.
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In a nonassociative mathematical system, the order of operations can significantly affect the outcome of the equation.
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For Putnam, therefore, a nonassociative political culture need not foster the breakdown of democracy; instead, it leads to poor administrative performance and the political system's inability to utilize new and positive elements of a specific culture in order to improve its legitimacy.
Academic text (2000) -
Understanding nonassociative operations is crucial for studying advanced algebra and their applications in theoretical physics.
How Associative
- Specialized
1
8.0
- Specialized
Surface Forms
Morphology
nonassociative = associative (transparent) = non + associate + ive
The productive prefix 'non-' straightforwardly negates the adjective 'associative', yielding the literal meaning 'not associative'.
Etymology
Nonassociative comes from non- meaning 'not' and associate meaning 'to join' or 'group', the same idea in social, which means 'together'. So, nonassociative means 'not' grouped in the normal way: if you group things differently, the result can change, as in subtraction.