multiplication
The operation of finding the product of two or more quantities, usually written as a x b when multiplying two numbers a and b. Multiplication is actually a repeated addition in the sense that a x b means b is added to itself a times. The expression b x a means that a is added to itself b times.

For example,

symbol space3 × 4 = 4 + 4 + 4
or
symbol space4 × 3 = 3 + 3 + 3 + 3

Multiplication is associative, commutative, and distributive. The number 1 is the identity element for arithmetic multiplication.


Related Terms: associative, commutative, distributive, division


 
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