key term - Multiplication Symbol (×)

Definition

The multiplication symbol, also known as the 'times' or 'cross' symbol, is a mathematical operator used to indicate the process of multiplying two or more numbers or quantities. It is a fundamental operation in arithmetic and algebra that allows for the calculation of products, or the result of combining two or more factors.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. The multiplication symbol (×) is used to indicate the operation of multiplying two or more numbers or quantities.
2. Multiplication is a repeated addition operation, where the multiplier represents the number of times the multiplicand is added to itself.
3. The order of factors in a multiplication expression does not affect the product, as multiplication is a commutative operation.
4. Multiplication is used in various mathematical contexts, including whole numbers, integers, rational expressions, and more.
5. The distributive property of multiplication allows for the simplification of expressions involving multiplication and addition or subtraction.

Review Questions

• Explain how the multiplication symbol (×) is used in the context of whole numbers (Topic 1.1).
  • In the context of whole numbers (Topic 1.1), the multiplication symbol (×) is used to indicate the operation of multiplying two or more whole numbers together. For example, 3 × 4 represents the product of 3 and 4, which is 12. Multiplication of whole numbers is a fundamental operation that allows for the calculation of larger quantities from smaller ones, and it is often used in various real-world applications, such as calculating the total cost of multiple items or the area of a rectangular shape.
• Describe the role of the multiplication symbol (×) in the context of multiplying and dividing integers (Topic 1.4).
  • In the context of multiplying and dividing integers (Topic 1.4), the multiplication symbol (×) is used to indicate the operation of multiplying two or more integers together. The rules for multiplying integers, including positive and negative numbers, are crucial for understanding the behavior of multiplication in this number system. For example, the expression $-3 \times 5$ represents the product of -3 and 5, which is -15. Understanding the properties of multiplication, such as the commutative and distributive properties, is essential for solving equations and simplifying expressions involving integers.
• Analyze how the multiplication symbol (×) is used in the context of solving equations with variables and constants on both sides (Topic 2.3).
  • In the context of solving equations with variables and constants on both sides (Topic 2.3), the multiplication symbol (×) is used to represent the operation of multiplying a variable or constant by another variable or constant. This is particularly important when dealing with expressions that involve multiple terms, where the distributive property of multiplication can be applied to simplify and solve the equation. For example, the equation $2x \times 3y = 6xy$ can be solved by recognizing that the multiplication symbol (×) is used to combine the variables $x$ and $y$ into a single term, $xy$, which can then be isolated to find the value of the variable $x$.

Related terms

Factors:

The numbers or quantities that are multiplied together to produce a product.

Product: The result of multiplying two or more numbers or quantities.

Distributive Property:

A property that allows multiplication to be distributed over addition or subtraction, such as a(b + c) = ab + ac.