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➕pre-algebra review

Multiply

Written by the Fiveable Content Team • Last updated September 2025
Written by the Fiveable Content Team • Last updated September 2025

Definition

Multiplication is a mathematical operation that involves the repeated addition of a number with itself. It is a fundamental concept in mathematics that is used to find the total number of objects or the total amount when a quantity is repeated a certain number of times.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

  1. Multiplication is used to find the area of rectangles by multiplying the length and width.
  2. The volume of a rectangular prism is calculated by multiplying the length, width, and height.
  3. The surface area of a three-dimensional shape, such as a cube or a rectangular prism, is found by multiplying the appropriate dimensions.
  4. Multiplication is a faster way to find the total number of objects when a quantity is repeated a certain number of times, compared to repeated addition.
  5. The commutative property of multiplication allows the order of the factors to be changed without affecting the product.

Review Questions

  • Explain how multiplication is used to find the area of a rectangle.
    • Multiplication is used to find the area of a rectangle by multiplying the length and width of the rectangle. The formula for the area of a rectangle is A = l × w, where A represents the area, l represents the length, and w represents the width. This formula allows you to calculate the total number of square units that make up the rectangle's surface area.
  • Describe how multiplication is used to calculate the volume of a rectangular prism.
    • The volume of a rectangular prism is calculated by multiplying the length, width, and height of the prism. The formula for the volume of a rectangular prism is V = l × w × h, where V represents the volume, l represents the length, w represents the width, and h represents the height. This formula allows you to determine the total number of cubic units that make up the three-dimensional space occupied by the rectangular prism.
  • Analyze how the commutative property of multiplication applies to finding the surface area of three-dimensional shapes.
    • The commutative property of multiplication states that the order of the factors in a multiplication problem does not affect the product. This property is important when calculating the surface area of three-dimensional shapes, such as cubes or rectangular prisms, because the dimensions used to find the surface area can be multiplied in any order without changing the final result. For example, the surface area of a cube can be calculated by multiplying any two of the cube's dimensions to find the area of each face, and then multiplying that result by 6 to account for the total number of faces. The commutative property ensures that the order in which these dimensions are multiplied does not impact the final surface area calculation.