What does the word 'multiply' mean in maths?

Answer 1

Multiply involves at least two numbers. For example 4 times 6. What is meant by this is

"If you add 4 to itself 6 times, what would be the result" So we have

4+4+4+4+4+4 = 24

Since multiplication is commutative it is equivalent to saying

"If you add 6 to itself 4 times, what would be the result" So we have

6+6+6+6 = 24

Multiplication is successive addition

More complicated multiplications may involve terms like

7 x (3a + 8b - 9c)

(3a + 4b - 9c) x (10a - 2b - 6c)

These are all examples of "Multiply"