Symbols:Arithmetic and Algebra/Multiplication (Arithmetic)
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Multiplication of Numbers
- $\times$
Times, or multiplied by.
A binary operation on two numbers or variables.
Usually used when numbers are involved (as opposed to variables) to avoid confusion with the use of $\cdot$ which could be confused with the decimal point.
The symbol $\times$ is cumbersome in the context of algebra, and may be confused with the letter $x$.
Its $\LaTeX$ code is \times .
Also see
See:
for other uses of this symbol.
Historical Note
Use of the symbol $\times$ for multiplication of numbers was invented by William Oughtred, and published in his $1631$ work Clavis Mathematicae.
It was criticised by Leibniz, on the grounds that it was too similar to the letter $x$.
His preferred notation was $\cdot$, which is now widespread.
Sources
- 2008: David Nelson: The Penguin Dictionary of Mathematics (4th ed.) ... (previous) ... (next): multiplication sign
- 2008: David Nelson: The Penguin Dictionary of Mathematics (4th ed.) ... (previous) ... (next): Appendix: Table $7$: Common signs and symbols: multiplication sign
- 2021: Richard Earl and James Nicholson: The Concise Oxford Dictionary of Mathematics (6th ed.) ... (previous) ... (next): Appendix $19$: Symbols and abbreviations: Real and Complex Numbers