ELI5: Explain Like I'm 5

Non-associative algebra

Okay, kiddo, let me explain non-associative algebra in a way you can understand.

Remember when you learned how to add numbers, and you were told that the order doesn't matter? For example, 2+3 is the same as 3+2. This is called the associative property of addition.

In non-associative algebra, things don't work like that. Imagine you have three toys, let's call them A, B, and C.

In associative algebra, we could say that (A+B)+C is the same as A+(B+C). It doesn't matter which two toys we group together first, the answer will be the same.

But in non-associative algebra, grouping matters. We might get a different answer depending on the order we combine the toys. For example, (A+B)+C could give us a different answer than A+(B+C).

Non-associative algebra is a lot like a game where you need to follow certain rules to figure out the right answer. It can be tricky sometimes, but it's also really cool because it helps us understand how things fit together in different ways.
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