4×

4× is a compact notation in which the multiplication sign × denotes a factor of four. It is commonly read as “four times” and is used to express that a quantity is four times as large as a reference value, or fourfold of it.

In mathematics, 4 × a equals 4a. When placed before a noun to indicate scaling, 4× can express a fourfold increase, though in formal writing the words “four times” or “fourfold” are often preferred for clarity.

In applied fields, 4× appears in contexts such as magnification (for example, 4× magnification), growth factors (a 4× increase in revenue), and unit scaling (a device with 4× optical zoom). It provides a concise way to communicate proportional changes without spelling out the full phrase each time.

The symbol is straightforward in numeric expressions (4 × 7 = 28) but can be ambiguous in plain text where the letter x might stand for a variable. When precision matters, spell out “four times” or “fourfold” and define the reference value to avoid misinterpretation.

Note that 4× should not be confused with the term 4X (with a capital X). In popular culture, 4X refers to a class of strategy games whose name stands for eXplore, eXpand, eXploit, and eXterminate, rather than a numeric factor.