Multiplication

Multiplication is a fundamental concept in mathematics that involves combining equal groups of numbers to find a total value. The basics of multiplication and its application in problem-solving.

Multiplication Basics

Multiplication is represented using the multiplication sign (*), and it is used to indicate the repeated addition of a number.

For example, 3 * 4 means adding 3, four times: 3 + 3 + 3 + 3 = 12.

The number being multiplied is called the multiplicand, and the number that indicates the number of times the multiplicand is being added is called the multiplier. The result of multiplication is called the product.

Here are some examples:

  • 2 * 5 = 10 (2 added 5 times)
  • 6 * 3 = 18 (6 added 3 times)
  • 9 * 2 = 18 (9 added 2 times)

Multiplication Properties

There are several properties of multiplication that are important to understand:

Commutative Property: The order of the multiplicands does not affect the product. For example, 3 * 5 is the same as 5 * 3.

Associative Property: The grouping of the multiplicands does not affect the product. For example, (2 * 3) * 4 is the same as 2 * (3 * 4).

Identity Property: The product of any number and 1 is the number itself. For example, 7 * 1 = 7.

Zero Property: The product of any number and 0 is 0. For example, 4 * 0 = 0.

Multiplication Applications

Multiplication is used in a wide variety of mathematical applications, including:

Finding the area of a rectangle: The area of a rectangle is calculated by multiplying the length by the width.

Scaling: Multiplication can be used to scale a number up or down. For example, if a recipe calls for 2 cups of flour, and you want to make twice as much, you would multiply 2 by 2 to get 4 cups.

Finding the total cost of an item: If an item costs $5 and you want to buy 3 of them, you would multiply 5 by 3 to get the total cost of $15.

Practice Exercise

Now that you have learned about the basics of multiplication, let’s try a practice exercise.

Calculate the following products:

  1. 4 * 7
  2. 5 * 0
  3. 2 * 3 * 4
  4. 9 * 1
  5. 10 * 2 * 0

Answers:

  1. 28
  2. 0
  3. 24
  4. 9
  5. 0

Multiplication is an essential concept in mathematics, and it has many practical applications. By understanding the basics of multiplication and its properties, you can solve a wide range of mathematical problems. Apply the properties of multiplication when solving problems, and to double-check your work to ensure accuracy.

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