Multiplication

Definition

Multiplication is a mathematical operation that involves the repeated addition of a number to itself. It is one of the four basic arithmetic operations, along with addition, subtraction, and division. Multiplication is used to find the total number of items or the area of a rectangle, and it is a fundamental concept in various mathematical contexts, including algebra, geometry, and statistics.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. Multiplication is used to find the total number of items or the area of a rectangle, and it is a fundamental concept in various mathematical contexts, including algebra, geometry, and statistics.
2. The commutative property of multiplication states that the order of the factors does not affect the product. For example, 3 × 4 = 4 × 3.
3. The distributive property of multiplication states that multiplying a sum by a number is the same as multiplying each addend by the number and then adding the products. For example, 3 × (4 + 5) = (3 × 4) + (3 × 5).
4. Multiplication can be used to find multiples of a number, which are the products of that number and any whole number.
5. Exponents are a way of representing repeated multiplication, where the base number is multiplied by itself a certain number of times, as indicated by the exponent.

Review Questions

• Explain how multiplication is used to find the total number of items or the area of a rectangle.
  • Multiplication is used to find the total number of items by repeatedly adding a number to itself. For example, if you have 3 groups of 4 items, you can multiply 3 × 4 to find the total number of 12 items. Similarly, the area of a rectangle can be found by multiplying the length and width of the rectangle. This is because the area represents the total number of square units that can fit inside the rectangle.
• Describe the commutative and distributive properties of multiplication and how they can be used to simplify expressions.
  • The commutative property of multiplication states that the order of the factors does not affect the product. This means that $a \times b = b \times a$. The distributive property of multiplication states that multiplying a sum by a number is the same as multiplying each addend by the number and then adding the products. This means that $a \times (b + c) = (a \times b) + (a \times c)$. These properties can be used to simplify expressions by rearranging or breaking down the multiplication operations, making them easier to evaluate.
• Explain how exponents are related to repeated multiplication and how they can be used to represent and manipulate large numbers in scientific notation.
  • Exponents are a way of representing repeated multiplication, where the base number is multiplied by itself a certain number of times, as indicated by the exponent. For example, $3^4$ is equivalent to $3 \times 3 \times 3 \times 3$, which is 81. Exponents can be used to represent and manipulate large numbers in scientific notation, where a number is expressed as a product of a power of 10 and a decimal value between 1 and 10. This allows for more efficient representation and calculation of very large or very small numbers, which is particularly useful in scientific and engineering applications.

Related terms

Factor:

A factor is a number that divides another number evenly, without a remainder. Factors are used in the process of multiplication to determine the product of two or more numbers.

Commutative Property:

The commutative property of multiplication states that the order of the factors does not affect the product. For example, 3 × 4 = 4 × 3.

Distributive Property:

The distributive property of multiplication states that multiplying a sum by a number is the same as multiplying each addend by the number and then adding the products. For example, 3 × (4 + 5) = (3 × 4) + (3 × 5).