Difference between revisions of "Multiplication"
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In its most elementary form '''multiplication''' is repeated [[addition]] of [[whole numbers]] or [[integers]]. | In its most elementary form '''multiplication''' is repeated [[addition]] of [[whole numbers]] or [[integers]]. | ||
| − | :For example, <big><math>3\times 2 = 2 + 2 + 2</math></big> | + | :For example, <big><math>3\times 2 = 2 + 2 + 2 = 6</math></big> |
The result of a multiplication is the ''[[product]]''. The numbers which are multiplied together are called ''[[factor]]s''. | The result of a multiplication is the ''[[product]]''. The numbers which are multiplied together are called ''[[factor]]s''. | ||
Revision as of 12:06, September 3, 2008
In its most elementary form multiplication is repeated addition of whole numbers or integers.
- For example, Failed to parse (MathML with SVG or PNG fallback (recommended for modern browsers and accessibility tools): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle 3\times 2 = 2 + 2 + 2 = 6}
The result of a multiplication is the product. The numbers which are multiplied together are called factors.
Multiplication is a commutative operation in that A Failed to parse (MathML with SVG or PNG fallback (recommended for modern browsers and accessibility tools): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle \times} B = B Failed to parse (MathML with SVG or PNG fallback (recommended for modern browsers and accessibility tools): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle \times} A.
- For example Failed to parse (MathML with SVG or PNG fallback (recommended for modern browsers and accessibility tools): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle 3\times 2 } (spoken as "three times two") is the sum of 3 + 3 = 6.
Symbol
Several conventions are used to indicate multiplication.
- For simple numbers, the symbol (Failed to parse (MathML with SVG or PNG fallback (recommended for modern browsers and accessibility tools): Invalid response ("Math extension cannot connect to Restbase.") from server "https://wikimedia.org/api/rest_v1/":): {\displaystyle \times} ) used looks much like the letter "X", as in the examples above.
- Since the "X" looks like a letter, and letters are commonly used in algebra to indicate unknowns, or variables, the "dot" is frequently used: A • B = B • A.
- Alternatively a period may be used to denote multiplication
- Also, in algebraic use, quantities are simply juxtaposed to indicate that they are to be multiplied:
- Y = 3aX + 4bZ