Name the property of multiplication illustrated by the following statement:

$\left(\dfrac{-3}{4} \times \dfrac{5}{7}\right) \times \dfrac{-9}{11} = \dfrac{-3}{4} \times \left(\dfrac{5}{7} \times \dfrac{-9}{11}\right)$

Here the grouping of the three rational numbers has been changed but the product remains the same.

If $\dfrac{a}{b}, \dfrac{c}{d} \text{ and } \dfrac{e}{f}$ are any three rational numbers, then

$\left(\dfrac{a}{b} \times \dfrac{c}{d}\right) \times \dfrac{e}{f} = \dfrac{a}{b} \times \left(\dfrac{c}{d} \times \dfrac{e}{f}\right)$

Hence, the given statement illustrates the associative law of multiplication.