# Multiplication Operator

Multiplication is a basic arithmetic operation performed on two numbers. Multiplying a number by another number is the same as adding together groups of . For example, multiplied by is equal to groups of as shown below.

## Notation

This site uses the following notation to represent multiplication. Note, the (times) symbol that is traditionally used in elementary math to represent multiplication is not used.

Multiplication

A dot between two numbers denotes multiplication in mathematics. The formal name for the dot symbol is an interpunct.

Multiplication Parentheses

Two expressions placed next to each other and separated by parenthesis are assumed to be multiplied together.

Multiplication Variables

In mathematics when two variables are next to each other the implied operation is multiplication. This makes many equations and formulas more simple.

## Examples

These examples demonstrate some basic multiplication operations. In each case, a good way to think about the operation is as a “groups of” operation. For example, the expression can be thought of as “three groups of four”. This can be mathematically expressed as shown below.

## Properties

There are four propreties of multiplication: the commutative property, associative property, and the identity property.

Name Property
Commutative Property
Associative Property
Identity Property
Distributive Property