Math Is Fun Forum
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#1 2009-01-24 04:49:08
- JaneFairfax
- Member
- Registered: 2007-02-23
- Posts: 6,868
Multiplication symbols
There are three common ways to represent the arithmetic operation of multiplication:
(i) by the cross symbol × (often called times):
(ii) by a dot:
(iii) by nothing:
The last method is not suitable for raw numerals 0, 1, 2 etc
is generally interpreted as the single number twenty-three rather than the operation two times three. The best multiplication symbol to use for numerals is the cross symbol.If you use a dot with numerals to represent multiplication, make sure you use a centre dot rather than a baseline dot. In LaTeX, it should be formatted with the \cdot command. Do not use the baseline dot for multiplication that represents a decimal point!!
Last edited by JaneFairfax (2009-01-25 02:06:51)
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#2 2009-01-24 17:00:57
- Jai Ganesh
- Administrator
- Registered: 2005-06-28
- Posts: 48,427
Re: Multiplication symbols
JaneFairfax,
Thanks for the post. I had learnt of this immediately on seeing your reply to the puzzle being referred. I thought that was the end of it. 
It appears to me that if one wants to make progress in mathematics, one should study the masters and not the pupils. - Niels Henrik Abel.
Nothing is better than reading and gaining more and more knowledge - Stephen William Hawking.
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#3 2009-01-24 17:34:49
- Ricky
- Moderator
- Registered: 2005-12-04
- Posts: 3,791
Re: Multiplication symbols
It is also typical for a baseline dot to mean the dot product. But I'm not entirely sure why this is posted in Euler Avenue and not in response to the puzzle... But hey Jane, mistakes happen. Getting angry over something that can't be changed really does nothing but make it worse.
"In the real world, this would be a problem. But in mathematics, we can just define a place where this problem doesn't exist. So we'll go ahead and do that now..."
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#4 2009-01-25 01:04:43
- Identity
- Member
- Registered: 2007-04-18
- Posts: 934
Re: Multiplication symbols
I prefer (2)(3) = 6, typically reserving
and for vectors.Offline
#5 2013-09-16 20:35:48
Re: Multiplication symbols
Who is the guy who refferenced this in the wikipedia?
'And fun? If maths is fun, then getting a tooth extraction is fun. A viral infection is fun. Rabies shots are fun.'
'God exists because Mathematics is consistent, and the devil exists because we cannot prove it'
I'm not crazy, my mother had me tested.
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#6 2013-09-17 01:37:59
- bobbym
- bumpkin
- From: Bumpkinland
- Registered: 2009-04-12
- Posts: 109,606
Re: Multiplication symbols
Hi;
What is wrong with the comments given above?
In mathematics, you don't understand things. You just get used to them.
If it ain't broke, fix it until it is.
Always satisfy the Prime Directive of getting the right answer above all else.
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#7 2013-09-17 01:57:22
Re: Multiplication symbols
nothing
'And fun? If maths is fun, then getting a tooth extraction is fun. A viral infection is fun. Rabies shots are fun.'
'God exists because Mathematics is consistent, and the devil exists because we cannot prove it'
I'm not crazy, my mother had me tested.
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#8 2013-09-17 02:00:48
- bobbym
- bumpkin
- From: Bumpkinland
- Registered: 2009-04-12
- Posts: 109,606
Re: Multiplication symbols
I like the center dot given by \cdot best but \times does have its points.
In mathematics, you don't understand things. You just get used to them.
If it ain't broke, fix it until it is.
Always satisfy the Prime Directive of getting the right answer above all else.
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#9 2013-09-17 02:59:13
Re: Multiplication symbols
Who is the guy who refferenced this in the wikipedia?
'And fun? If maths is fun, then getting a tooth extraction is fun. A viral infection is fun. Rabies shots are fun.'
'God exists because Mathematics is consistent, and the devil exists because we cannot prove it'
I'm not crazy, my mother had me tested.
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#10 2013-09-17 03:01:13
- bobbym
- bumpkin
- From: Bumpkinland
- Registered: 2009-04-12
- Posts: 109,606
Re: Multiplication symbols
I am sorry, are you asking a question?
In mathematics, you don't understand things. You just get used to them.
If it ain't broke, fix it until it is.
Always satisfy the Prime Directive of getting the right answer above all else.
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#11 2013-09-17 03:05:13
Re: Multiplication symbols
I am talking about: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Full_stop#cite_note-5
'And fun? If maths is fun, then getting a tooth extraction is fun. A viral infection is fun. Rabies shots are fun.'
'God exists because Mathematics is consistent, and the devil exists because we cannot prove it'
I'm not crazy, my mother had me tested.
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#12 2013-09-17 03:11:09
- bobbym
- bumpkin
- From: Bumpkinland
- Registered: 2009-04-12
- Posts: 109,606
Re: Multiplication symbols
Hooahh as the great Al Pacino would say! It does look like they have a link to this site.
In mathematics, you don't understand things. You just get used to them.
If it ain't broke, fix it until it is.
Always satisfy the Prime Directive of getting the right answer above all else.
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#13 2013-09-17 03:32:07
Re: Multiplication symbols
and who put that?
'And fun? If maths is fun, then getting a tooth extraction is fun. A viral infection is fun. Rabies shots are fun.'
'God exists because Mathematics is consistent, and the devil exists because we cannot prove it'
I'm not crazy, my mother had me tested.
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#14 2013-09-17 03:34:04
- bobbym
- bumpkin
- From: Bumpkinland
- Registered: 2009-04-12
- Posts: 109,606
Re: Multiplication symbols
I do not know who did that.
In mathematics, you don't understand things. You just get used to them.
If it ain't broke, fix it until it is.
Always satisfy the Prime Directive of getting the right answer above all else.
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#15 2013-09-17 03:41:47
Re: Multiplication symbols
The whole thread is kind of stupid
'And fun? If maths is fun, then getting a tooth extraction is fun. A viral infection is fun. Rabies shots are fun.'
'God exists because Mathematics is consistent, and the devil exists because we cannot prove it'
I'm not crazy, my mother had me tested.
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#16 2013-09-17 03:44:46
- bobbym
- bumpkin
- From: Bumpkinland
- Registered: 2009-04-12
- Posts: 109,606
Re: Multiplication symbols
This one or that one?
In mathematics, you don't understand things. You just get used to them.
If it ain't broke, fix it until it is.
Always satisfy the Prime Directive of getting the right answer above all else.
Offline
#17 2013-09-17 03:58:12
Re: Multiplication symbols
This one.
What is the other?
'And fun? If maths is fun, then getting a tooth extraction is fun. A viral infection is fun. Rabies shots are fun.'
'God exists because Mathematics is consistent, and the devil exists because we cannot prove it'
I'm not crazy, my mother had me tested.
Offline
#18 2013-09-17 04:00:55
- bobbym
- bumpkin
- From: Bumpkinland
- Registered: 2009-04-12
- Posts: 109,606
Re: Multiplication symbols
Judging by what I can see it was an argument in another thread carried over to this one.
In mathematics, you don't understand things. You just get used to them.
If it ain't broke, fix it until it is.
Always satisfy the Prime Directive of getting the right answer above all else.
Offline
#19 2013-09-17 04:55:53
Re: Multiplication symbols
Where is it?
'And fun? If maths is fun, then getting a tooth extraction is fun. A viral infection is fun. Rabies shots are fun.'
'God exists because Mathematics is consistent, and the devil exists because we cannot prove it'
I'm not crazy, my mother had me tested.
Offline
#20 2013-09-17 05:00:41
- bobbym
- bumpkin
- From: Bumpkinland
- Registered: 2009-04-12
- Posts: 109,606
Re: Multiplication symbols
I would assume it is in one of ganesh's threads of problems.
In mathematics, you don't understand things. You just get used to them.
If it ain't broke, fix it until it is.
Always satisfy the Prime Directive of getting the right answer above all else.
Offline
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