9×

9× is a compact way to express the phrase “nine times,” used as a multiplication indicator in arithmetic and algebra. When written as 9×a, it denotes the product of nine and a as long as a follows the symbol. In contexts that present dimensions, 9×12 or 9×9 can indicate measurements such as 9 by 12 inches or square grid sizes.

The symbol ×, called the times sign, is the standard multiplication operator in many Western mathematical texts. It was popularized in the 17th century, notably by William Oughtred, and is distinct from the letter x to reduce confusion between a variable and the multiplication sign. In formal typesetting, spacing around the symbol often follows convention, with a small gap on either side in printed mathematics, and a similar, but non-breaking, spacing in running text.

Usage varies across fields. In plain arithmetic and many educational materials, 9×4 equals 36. In programming languages, the multiplication operator is usually the asterisk (*) rather than ×, because asterisk keys are universal on keyboards. In typography and digital typography, Unicode provides the multiplication sign (U+00D7) for instances where a cross symbol is preferred for readability, such as in math notation or product specifications. The symbol also appears as the cross product indicator in vector math, where a×b denotes a vector perpendicular to both a and b.

In everyday writing, “9×” may stand alone to indicate ninefold repetition or scale when followed by a number, or may be used as shorthand in dimensions and measurements.