What is multiplication?

Multiplication is repeated addition, represented mathematically as scaling or distribution in arrays of rows and columns.

How do you visualize multiplication?

By creating a specified number of people or groups, giving each person the same number of items, and adding them all together.

Person 1 buys (6)

Person 2 buys (6)

Person 3 buys (6)

Person 4 buys (6)

Total Purchased Apples (24)

×24

Number of People (a)4

112

Apples per Person (b)6

112

MUL

Multiplication scales a base amount. It can be represented visually as a grid of rows and columns.

a \times b = c

Step 1

We want to calculate the product of 4 people and 6 apples per person.

a = 4, \quad b = 6

Step 2

This is equivalent to adding 6 apples for each of the 4 people, resulting in a cumulative total of 24 apples.

\sum_{i=1}^{4} 6 = 24