Multiplication is one of the four basic operations of arithmetic (the other being addition, subtraction, and division). Multiplication operates on the set of real numbers such that for any real numbers multiplied together, a unique real number is determined. Multiplicative notation is defined as the system of symbols used in the operation of multiplication to represent numbers and actions. For the expression "2 x 3" the natural numbers "2" and "3" are multiplied together to produce a unique natural number, namely "6". In the expression "2 x 3" the operation of multiplication is denoted by "x", while the numbers "2" and "3" are called the "multiplicand" and "multiplier", respectively. Since multiplication is commutative on the real numbers (that is, the multiplicand and the multiplier can be interchanged) they are, also, both called factors.

Various symbols are used to indicate the multiplication of two numbers. The symbols "x" (lying cross), "⋅" (raised dot), and "*" (asterisk) are...