Kertalukuus

Kertalukuus, also known as multiplication in English, is a fundamental arithmetic operation that involves combining groups of equal size. It is represented by the symbol "×" or "*". The number being multiplied is called the multiplicand, and the number by which it is multiplied is called the multiplier. The result of the multiplication is called the product.

Multiplication can be visualized as repeated addition. For example, 3 × 4 can be thought of as 3 groups of 4, which equals 12. This can be written as 3 + 3 + 3 + 3 = 12.

Multiplication is commutative, meaning that changing the order of the factors does not change the product. For example, 3 × 4 is the same as 4 × 3. However, multiplication is not associative, meaning that the grouping of the factors can change the product. For example, (2 × 3) × 4 is not the same as 2 × (3 × 4).

Multiplication is widely used in various fields, including mathematics, science, engineering, and everyday life. It is a key concept in algebra, where it is used to solve equations and simplify expressions. In geometry, multiplication is used to calculate areas and volumes. In finance, multiplication is used to calculate interest and other financial metrics. In everyday life, multiplication is used for tasks such as calculating the total cost of items, determining the number of items needed for a project, and more.