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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)

Q: Who wrote the novels Mrs Dalloway and To the Lighthouse?

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#2 2009-01-24 17:00:57

ganesh
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Registered: 2005-06-28
Posts: 15,152

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.

Character is who you are when no one is looking.

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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.

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#5 2013-09-16 20:35:48

Agnishom
Real Member
From: The Complex Plane
Registered: 2011-01-29
Posts: 18,863
Website

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'
'You have made another human being happy. There is no greater accomplishment.' -bobbym

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#6 2013-09-17 01:37:59

bobbym
From: Bumpkinland
Registered: 2009-04-12
Posts: 90,606

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.

I agree with you regarding the satisfaction and importance of actually computing some numbers. I can't tell you how often I see time and money wasted because someone didn't bother to run the numbers.

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#7 2013-09-17 01:57:22

Agnishom
Real Member
From: The Complex Plane
Registered: 2011-01-29
Posts: 18,863
Website

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'
'You have made another human being happy. There is no greater accomplishment.' -bobbym

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#8 2013-09-17 02:00:48

bobbym
From: Bumpkinland
Registered: 2009-04-12
Posts: 90,606

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.

I agree with you regarding the satisfaction and importance of actually computing some numbers. I can't tell you how often I see time and money wasted because someone didn't bother to run the numbers.

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#9 2013-09-17 02:59:13

Agnishom
Real Member
From: The Complex Plane
Registered: 2011-01-29
Posts: 18,863
Website

Re: Multiplication symbols

Agnishom wrote:

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'
'You have made another human being happy. There is no greater accomplishment.' -bobbym

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#10 2013-09-17 03:01:13

bobbym
From: Bumpkinland
Registered: 2009-04-12
Posts: 90,606

Re: Multiplication symbols

I am sorry, are you asking a question?

In mathematics, you don't understand things. You just get used to them.

I agree with you regarding the satisfaction and importance of actually computing some numbers. I can't tell you how often I see time and money wasted because someone didn't bother to run the numbers.

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#11 2013-09-17 03:05:13

Agnishom
Real Member
From: The Complex Plane
Registered: 2011-01-29
Posts: 18,863
Website

Re: Multiplication symbols

'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'
'You have made another human being happy. There is no greater accomplishment.' -bobbym

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#12 2013-09-17 03:11:09

bobbym
From: Bumpkinland
Registered: 2009-04-12
Posts: 90,606

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.

I agree with you regarding the satisfaction and importance of actually computing some numbers. I can't tell you how often I see time and money wasted because someone didn't bother to run the numbers.

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#13 2013-09-17 03:32:07

Agnishom
Real Member
From: The Complex Plane
Registered: 2011-01-29
Posts: 18,863
Website

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'
'You have made another human being happy. There is no greater accomplishment.' -bobbym

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#14 2013-09-17 03:34:04

bobbym
From: Bumpkinland
Registered: 2009-04-12
Posts: 90,606

Re: Multiplication symbols

I do not know who did that.

In mathematics, you don't understand things. You just get used to them.

I agree with you regarding the satisfaction and importance of actually computing some numbers. I can't tell you how often I see time and money wasted because someone didn't bother to run the numbers.

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#15 2013-09-17 03:41:47

Agnishom
Real Member
From: The Complex Plane
Registered: 2011-01-29
Posts: 18,863
Website

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'
'You have made another human being happy. There is no greater accomplishment.' -bobbym

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#16 2013-09-17 03:44:46

bobbym
From: Bumpkinland
Registered: 2009-04-12
Posts: 90,606

Re: Multiplication symbols

This one or that one?

In mathematics, you don't understand things. You just get used to them.

I agree with you regarding the satisfaction and importance of actually computing some numbers. I can't tell you how often I see time and money wasted because someone didn't bother to run the numbers.

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#17 2013-09-17 03:58:12

Agnishom
Real Member
From: The Complex Plane
Registered: 2011-01-29
Posts: 18,863
Website

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'
'You have made another human being happy. There is no greater accomplishment.' -bobbym

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#18 2013-09-17 04:00:55

bobbym
From: Bumpkinland
Registered: 2009-04-12
Posts: 90,606

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.

I agree with you regarding the satisfaction and importance of actually computing some numbers. I can't tell you how often I see time and money wasted because someone didn't bother to run the numbers.

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#19 2013-09-17 04:55:53

Agnishom
Real Member
From: The Complex Plane
Registered: 2011-01-29
Posts: 18,863
Website

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'
'You have made another human being happy. There is no greater accomplishment.' -bobbym

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#20 2013-09-17 05:00:41

bobbym
From: Bumpkinland
Registered: 2009-04-12
Posts: 90,606

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.

I agree with you regarding the satisfaction and importance of actually computing some numbers. I can't tell you how often I see time and money wasted because someone didn't bother to run the numbers.

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