3×8

3×8 is the product of the integers 3 and 8. In multiplication, it represents eight copies of three or three copies of eight. The result is 24, making 3×8 a basic arithmetic fact often encountered in early math education.

Notation and interpretation: The × sign is the traditional times symbol; other common notations include 3·8 and 3(8). In many programming languages, 3×8 is written as 3*8. In a grid or area model, 3×8 can be seen as an array with 3 rows and 8 columns, containing 24 unit squares.

Properties: The operation is commutative, so 3×8 equals 8×3 equals 24. It is also consistent with the distributive property, for instance 3×8 = 3×(5+3) = 3×5 + 3×3 = 15 + 9 = 24.

Applications and related facts: 3×8 is used in area calculations for a rectangle measuring 3 by 8 units. It is a member of the 3 times table and supports the prime factorization of 24, which is 2^3 × 3. This example illustrates basic counting, multiplication, and factorization concepts in arithmetic.