Difference between revisions of "Common Multiplication"

m (Multiplication moved to Ordinary Multiplication: The word '''multiplication''' has more broader definition and the one defined in this page provides information that only pertains to ordinary arithmetic.)
 
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In ordinary [[arithmetic]], '''multiplication''' is an arithmetic [[operation]]. It is represented by parentheses, the <math>\cdot</math> sign, and the <math>\times</math> sign. The result of multiplying is the [[product]]. If one of the [[number]]s is a [[whole number]], multiplication is the repeated [[sum]] of that number. For example, <math>4\times3=4+4+4=12</math>. The [[inverse]] of multiplication is [[division]].
 
 
In [[mathematics]], '''multiplication''' is an arithmetic [[operation]]. The result of multiplying is the [[product]]. If one of the [[number]]s is a [[whole number]], multiplication is the repeated [[sum]] of that number. For example, <math>4\times3=4+4+4=12</math>. The inverse of multiplication is [[division]].
 
  
 
To multiply [[fraction]]s, the [[numerator]]s and [[denominator]]s are multiplied: <math>\frac{a}{c}\times\frac{b}{d}=\frac{a\times b}{c\times d}=\frac{ab}{cd}</math>.
 
To multiply [[fraction]]s, the [[numerator]]s and [[denominator]]s are multiplied: <math>\frac{a}{c}\times\frac{b}{d}=\frac{a\times b}{c\times d}=\frac{ab}{cd}</math>.
  
 
== Properties ==
 
== Properties ==
* Commutative property: <math>a\times b=b\times a</math>
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* [[Commutative]] property: <math>a\times b=b\times a</math>
* Associative property: <math>a(b\times c)=(a\times b)c</math>
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* [[Associative]] property: <math>a\times(b\times c)=(a\times b)\times c</math>
* Distributive property: <math>a(b+c)=ab+ac</math>
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* [[Distributive]] property: <math>a\times(b+c)=ab+ac</math>
* Identity property: <math>a\times1=a</math> and <math>a\times0=0</math>
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* [[zero (constant) | Zero]] property: <math>a\times0=0</math>
* Any number, except [[zero (constant) | zero]], multiplied by its reciprocal is equal to 1: <math>x\times\frac{1}{x}=1</math>
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* [[Identity]] property: <math>a\times1=a</math>
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* [[Inverse]] property: For any <math>x\neq0</math>, <math>x\times\frac{1}{x}=1</math>
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Note that <math>\frac{1}{x}</math> is <math>x</math>'s reciprocal. As long as a number is not equal to 0, the product of that number and its reciprocal is 1.
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== Multiplication between positive and negative numbers and 0 ==
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If you multiply no 0's, any amount of positive numbers, and an odd number of negative numbers, the result is negative. However, if you multiply no 0's, any amount of positive numbers, and an even number of negative numbers, the result is positive. As mentioned, multiplying any number of 0's will result in the product 0.
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[[Category:Operation]]

Latest revision as of 17:38, 30 December 2010

In ordinary arithmetic, multiplication is an arithmetic operation. It is represented by parentheses, the $\cdot$ sign, and the $\times$ sign. The result of multiplying is the product. If one of the numbers is a whole number, multiplication is the repeated sum of that number. For example, $4\times3=4+4+4=12$. The inverse of multiplication is division.

To multiply fractions, the numerators and denominators are multiplied: $\frac{a}{c}\times\frac{b}{d}=\frac{a\times b}{c\times d}=\frac{ab}{cd}$.

Properties

Note that $\frac{1}{x}$ is $x$'s reciprocal. As long as a number is not equal to 0, the product of that number and its reciprocal is 1.

Multiplication between positive and negative numbers and 0

If you multiply no 0's, any amount of positive numbers, and an odd number of negative numbers, the result is negative. However, if you multiply no 0's, any amount of positive numbers, and an even number of negative numbers, the result is positive. As mentioned, multiplying any number of 0's will result in the product 0.

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